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Top 5 stars who are missing the 2018 World Cup

By Benjamin Barkworth

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 10: Players of the Netherlands stand for a minutes silence for the Mayor of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan ahead of the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Netherlands and Sweden at the Amsterdam Arena on October 10, 2017 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 10: Players of the Netherlands stand for a minutes silence for the Mayor of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan ahead of the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Netherlands and Sweden at the Amsterdam Arena on October 10, 2017 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images.
Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images. /

Alexis Sánchez

Chile, the South American champions, surprised everyone by failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Fresh from their consecutive victories in the Copa America tournaments as well as their impressive showing in the Confederations Cup; a deep run into the World Cup knockout stages seemed to be the next logical step. However, the physical demands of four international tournaments in a row as well as club seasons seems to have affected them.

La Roja only won one of their last four matches and quietly slipped out form as well as the qualification spots as Argentina took the majority of the media’s attention. Chile are an excellent team in the truest sense of the word because they act as a cohesive unit. However, Sánchez and Arturo Vidal are the heart of the team with the Arsenal star providing the main attacking threat.

Their recent history in the World Cup has been one of misfortune and near misses. They managed to progress through tough groups in the last two tournaments, but were knocked out by Brazil both times in the Round of Sixteen. They were inches away from knocking out Brazil in their home tournament, but the crossbar denied them and they couldn’t hold their nerve in the penalty shootout.

Sánchez in top form is a force of nature. His sheer determination combined with his clinical ability has dragged his teams through key matches. The upcoming World Cup could have been his chance to cement him and his team’s legacy. Both the Copa America wins were impressive, but the World Cup is the true test for an international side. Unfortunately, they won’t get a chance to do this for at least another four years.

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