Azzurri fans might still be in mourning over the exclusion of Francesco Totti, Antonio Cassano, Fabrizio Miccoli, etc, from the World Cup squad, but Italy isn’t the only country where the head honchos’ baffling decisions have left the most talented players planning beach holidays. In fact, you could form quite a formidable team from those left behind....
PAUL ROBINSON (England) Trust Sam Allardyce to take things too far by suggesting Fabio Capello has a personal grudge against Robinson, but the former Spurs 'keeper had a good season and deserved a squad place at least.
JAVIER ZANETTI (Argentina) The old cliché rings true with Javier Zanetti – age is just a number. The 36-year-old has been phenomenal for Inter this term, and Maradona has made a noose for his own neck by excluding him.
NICOLA LEGROTTAGLIE (Italy) He’s 33 and has hardly enjoyed a stellar season with Juventus, but wouldn’t Legrottaglie have been a better bet than Salvatore Bocchetti – an inexperienced youth who is part of Serie A’s second worst defence?
MARCELO (Brazil) Brazil boss Dunga has chosen Gilberto, a 34-year-old, and Michel Bastos, an attacking midfielder, as his left-backs instead of Real Madrid’s rocket propelled Marcelo. Why?
PATRICK VIEIRA (France) It’s truly a miracle that Raymond Domenech remains in charge of the French national team. Vieira could have played the motivator role like Rino Gattuso will for Italy. Instead he’s been ignored in favour of uncapped 19-year-old Yann M’Vila.
ESTEBAN CAMBIASSO (Argentina) This exclusion is so baffling I’m almost lost for words. Has Maradona watched Inter this season? Once?
SAMIR NASRI (France) That name again is Domenech. Why has he left one of his best midfielders behind? Perhaps Nasri’s a Scorpio.
RONALDINHO (Brazil) Milan’s bucktoothed Brazilian has enjoyed his best campaign for years, yet he wasn’t included in Dunga’s provisional squad and Kleberson was. No seriously.
FRANCESCO TOTTI (Italy) Ok, he kicked Mario Balotelli and he’s about as slow as an asthmatic ant carrying heavy shopping, but Er Pupone’s got more talent in his big toe than Vincenzo Iaquinta has in his whole body. Sorry Vince you’re an easy target.
KARIM BENZEMA (France) Frankly we’ve got a cheek to complain about Marcello Lippi when you see the stuff Domenech gets up to. Benzema’s had a patchy debut year with Real Madrid but for him to not even make the provisional squad is a joke. A bad joke.
ADRIANO (Brazil) We might remember him as a bloated bad boy but since returning home Adriano has inspired Flamengo to the Brazilian League title, topped the scorer’s charts and won the Brazilian Footballer of the Year award. However, he didn’t even make Dunga’s stand-by list.
football italia