The total 48-team line-up for this summer season’s FIFA World Cup was formally confirmed on Tuesday as the ultimate six nations on the finals via play-off ties.
DR Congo and Iraq have been the final two groups to e-book their place within the 2026 version of the event, set to be staged in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
The ultimate 4 European spots have been additionally confirmed on Tuesday, with Turkey, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Bosnia-Herzegovina qualifying on the expense of Kosovo, Poland, Denmark and Italy.
Italy have been the headline makers after the four-time winners missed out on a 3rd successive World Cup, regardless of possessing some star names.
Whereas quite a few Premier League stars might be on present on the finals, a number of suffered heartbreak in the course of the qualifying marketing campaign.
Every day Mail Sport has put collectively an XI of Premier League stars who might be compelled to look at on this summer season.
Italy stunningly missed out on a 3rd successive World Cup after shedding on penalties to Bosnia
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Italy
The Man Metropolis goalkeeper admitted he had been decreased to tears after Italy failed to achieve a 3rd successive World Cup.
Donnarumma captained Italy as they fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties on Tuesday evening, having battled for many of the match with 10 males.
He was unable to avoid wasting any of the Bosnian penalties in a 4-1 shoot-out defeat, with one other absence from the finals leaving the four-time winners shellshocked.
‘Final evening, after the match, I cried,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘I cried due to the frustration of not having the ability to carry Italy the place it deserves to be.
‘I cried due to the large disappointment I am feeling, together with the whole Azzurri group, of which I am proud to be captain, and I do know, proper now, you, followers of our nationwide group, are feeling too.
‘Phrases are of little use now, it is true. However I really feel one factor strongly inside, and I need to share it with you: after such an enormous disappointment, we should discover the braveness to show the web page, as soon as once more. And to take action requires a whole lot of energy, ardour, and conviction.
‘All the time consider; that is the driving pressure behind shifting ahead. As a result of life is aware of easy methods to reward those that give their all, with out holding again. And that is the place we should begin once more. Collectively. As soon as once more. To carry Italy again the place it deserves to be.’
Donnarumma made his Italy debut at 16, however will no longer play in a World Cup till he’s at the very least 31.
Gianluigi Donnarumma admitted he had cried after Italy missed out on one other World Cup
Matty Money (Poland)
Whereas Italy’s failure to qualify could have taken many of the headlines on Tuesday, Matty Money was on the improper finish of one other thrilling play-off tie.
The Aston Villa full again performed the total match as Poland have been overwhelmed 3-2 by Sweden.
Viktor Gyokeres scored a decisive 88th minute winner to sprint Polish hopes and remarkably qualify Sweden through the again door.
Sweden, now managed by Graham Potter, had did not win a single qualifying match however their Nations League efficiency earned them a spot within the play-offs. It was a second probability they seized with each fingers.
Money misses out on a second World Cup having featured at Qatar 2022. Poland’s failure to qualify seems to be to have ended the worldwide profession of their legendary ahead Robert Lewandowski.
Matty Money noticed Poland’s hopes dashed after struggling a dramatic play-off defeat to Sweden
Nathan Collins – Republic of Eire
The Brentford defender appeared to have performed a key position in serving to the Republic of Eire on their method to a primary World Cup since 2002.
Collins was fouled for the penalty which noticed Troy Parrott open the scoring in opposition to the Czech Republic final week.
He additionally rattled the crossbar as Eire appeared to place the tie past their Czech hosts in Prague.
Regardless of having led 2-0 on the evening, it was in the end heartbreak because the Czech Republic fought again to stage the match and finally win on penalties.
Republic of Eire have been overwhelmed on penalties by the Czech Republic in a play-off semi-final
Riccardo Calafiori – Italy
Calafiori was on the pitch all through Italy’s play-off in opposition to Bosnia and has not escaped criticism from their press following the defeat.
Corriere della Sera declared that ‘magnificence is not sufficient’ when analysing Calafiori’s efficiency and said that Italy ‘calls for extra’.
Corriere dello Sport went additional by suggesting that the Arsenal defender had been ‘outplayed’ in the course of the defeat.
Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori’s was among the many Italian gamers to return underneath hearth after their loss to Bosnia
Milos Kerkez – Hungary
Hungary’s World Cup destiny has been recognized for a while, after dramatically lacking out on the play-offs again in November.
Kerkez was a part of the Hungary aspect that appeared primed to complete as group runners-up behind Portugal and stay within the hunt for a World Cup berth.
Their desires have been dashed in beautiful vogue in opposition to the Republic of Eire when Troy Parrott accomplished his beautiful hat-trick within the final minute in Budapest to grab second away from Hungary.
Milos Kerkez, proper, noticed Hungary’s World Cup dream finish again in November within the group stage
Bryan Mbeumo – Cameroon
Mbeumo scored 4 instances for Cameroon of their qualifying group, but it surely was not sufficient because the Indomitable Lions completed behind Cape Verde – who will make their World Cup debut this summer season.
There was a second probability for Cameroon having completed as one of many 4 finest second-placed groups.
They have been undone, nevertheless, final November as a stoppage time Chancel Mbemba objective earned DR Congo a 1-0 win in a play-off semi-final in Rabat.
Cameroon, Africa’s file representatives on the World Cup with eight appearances, might be left ruing a serious alternative missed.
DR Congo would in the end go on to qualify by beating Nigeria on penalties, earlier than an extra-time 1-0 win over Jamaica within the intercontinental play-off on Tuesday.
Bryan Mbeumo’s Cameroon have been surprised by DR Congo in a play-off tie again in November
Sandro Tonali – Italy
The Newcastle midfielder did all he might to attempt to make sure Italy ended their World Cup curse and drag them to the finals.
Tonali scored and assisted in Italy’s 2-0 victory over Northern Eire of their play-off semi-final final week.
The 25-year-old was additionally the one Italian participant to search out the online within the penalty shoot-out in opposition to Bosnia.
Tonali might solely watch on as Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their respective penalties, because the Azzurri endured one other heartbreak.
The Newcastle midfielder might be compelled to look at on once more this summer season because the World Cup takes place with out Italy.
Tonali’s membership future will now be the primary challenge he’s concerned on this summer season, with the Italian wished by Man United, amongst others.
Sandro Tonali’s membership future seems to be more likely to be his summer season focus after Italy’s failure
Dominik Szoboszlai – Hungary
Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s shining mild this season however might be one of many highest profile absentees from the World Cup.
The Hungary captain will as an alternative have the summer season off after their beautiful defeat to the Republic of Eire again in November.
Nonetheless solely 25, Szoboszlai may have additional probabilities to finish Hungary’s lengthy wait to return to the World Cup.
The 1938 and 1954 runners-up haven’t been to a World Cup since means again at Mexico 1986.
Liverpool duo Szoboszlai and Kerkez will probably be key if they’re to finish that exile in 2030.
Dominik Szoboszlai might be among the many greatest identify stars to overlook this summer season’s finals
Harry Wilson – Wales
Fulham’s star man this season was carrying Welsh hopes of their play-off semi-final with Bosnia in Cardiff final week.
Wilson scored from the spot to offer Craig Bellamy’s aspect the proper begin, after Ermedin Demirovic had missed with Bosnia’s first effort.
Missed penalties from Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams noticed Welsh hopes in the end finish.
Wilson’s membership future would be the focus as an alternative this summer season, with the 29-year-old’s contract expiring after one of the best season of his profession.
Harry Wilson scored from the spot however Wales have been overwhelmed by Bosnia in a semi-final final week
Patrick Dorgu – Denmark
The Man United star was helpless as Denmark’s World Cup destiny was determined in his absence as he continues to recuperate from an harm.
Dorgu had proven that he probably might have helped his nation’s World Cup bid having been in glowing type previous to struggling his hamstring harm in opposition to Arsenal again in January.
Denmark equalised twice in opposition to the Czech Republic on Tuesday evening as their play-off tie went the gap.
The Czech Republic in the end triumphed 3-1 on penalties to e-book their ticket to the finals.
Dorgu’s former Man United team-mate Rasmus Hojlund was amongst these to overlook from the spot for Denmark, with the ahead firing his penalty in opposition to the crossbar.
Patrick Dorgu was absent for Denmark with harm when their World Cup hopes have been ended
Benjamin Sesko – Slovenia
Sesko might be one other Man United participant with the summer season off after Slovenia failed to tug up any bushes in qualifying.
Slovenia picked up 4 factors of their qualifying group, drawing 4 instances and shedding twice.
They are going to be among the many nations glancing envious eyes at Sweden. Slovenia completed above them of their group, however Sweden certified for the World Cup through the Nations League pathway via the play-offs.
Sesko failed to attain in his 4 appearances in qualifying as Slovenia completed behind Switzerland and Kosovo. He was absent from their closing two matches via harm.
At 22, Sesko may have a lot extra probabilities at showing at a World Cup and the ahead will probably have to hold a lot of the burden to assist Slovenia make the finals sooner or later.
