FOUR years ago, Dele Alli scored in a World Cup quarter-final and was one of the stars for England in Russia.
The ex-Tottenham man was performing at the peak of his powers for both club and country.
But as we know, things haven’t worked out for Alli, and another England cap looks a mile off right now.
He isn’t the only player to go down that route, though, and here we look at seven players who were set to shine for England in Qatar and will miss out.
Dele Alli shone at the 2018 World Cup, starting four games and scored a memorable header in the quarter-finals against Sweden.
Back then, he was one of Tottenham’s main men and a regular in Southgate’s squad.
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But the midfielder’s career has gone from bad to worse and after a failed spell at Everton, he’s plying his trade in Turkey with Besiktas and hasn’t been capped since 2019.
Ross Barkley hasn’t played in a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup, but was a regular starter some three years ago.
Despite England’s array of talent in midfield, the ex-Chelsea man featured in nine consecutive internationals during an 11 month spell between 2018 and 2019.
But like Alli, Barkley has gone off the boil since then and hasn’t been involved for more than three years.
Winger Hudsoi-Odoi burst on the scene and made his international debut as an 18-year-old.
But the Chelsea forward hasn’t been able to kick on and injuries and a loss of form means he’s completely out the question to be on the plane to Qatar and has instead been loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen.
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If successful careers were built simply on ability alone, Jack Wilshere would be right up there with the best.
When fit, Wilshere walked into the England team and would go on to win 34 caps despite his injuries.
But he never recovered from leaving Arsenal, and at 30 years old he should be in the peak of his career instead of already hanging up his boots.
Like so many others in the list, Oxlade-Chamberlain had bags of talent, but injuries have ultimately hindered his progress.
He looked a certainty to go to the Russia World Cup, only for an ACL injury months before the tournament ending his dream.
In recent years, he’s hardly kicked a ball for Liverpool and is completely out of the conversation for England.
The last four seasons have ending up being a no-show for Jones, but there were times in the last decade when he was a regular for both Manchester United and England.
Jones might not turn 31 until February, but his best days for club and country already seem to be behind him.
When Aaron Wan-Bissaka made the £50m switch to Manchester United back in 2019, he immediately earned his first call-up.
But an injury forced the right-back to withdraw and following intense competition from Reece James, Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the United man hasn’t been named in a squad since and is therefore still looking for his maiden cap.
