Goal.com

With the latest round of World Cup qualifiers approaching, Goal.com takes a look at the best players who have not been chosen to represent their respective nations

DEBATE
By Alex Young

With domestic action in the top-tier leagues on hiatus during international week, there are some players who will have to make do with joining us on the sofa and not taking the field to represent their country.

So who are those stars who shouldn't be left to their crisps and beer soft drinks and be aiding their nation's quest for a place in Brazil in 2014?

Goal.com analyses each squad and attempts to come up the best combined team of those unlucky lot who failed to get the call from their national team's head coach, lining up in a 4-3-3 formation.

GOALKEEPER

Former Germany No.1 Rene Adler is in astonishing form this season. There is no doubt that he is the best goalkeeper in Bundesliga this year but, after a long break due to injury, head coach Joachim Low has preferred not to call him up yet.

Low did point out that he always believed in Adler and there is a good chance he will return soon. It could be an interesting battle between him and current first choice Manuel Neuer.

DEFENCE

Carl Jenkinson has been a relevation at Arsenal this season, as he continues to deputise at right-back for the injured Bacary Sagna.

The 20-year-old is eligible to play for Finland through his mother, and has represented the Nordic side at Under-19 and Under-21 level, but England coach Gary Neville has confirmed that Jenkinson is being monitored by Roy Hodgson for a possible future Three Lions call-up.

Meanwhile, it appears Rio Ferdinand will not be forcing his way in the England setup anytime soon - just ask the London Underground passengers who Hodgson shared said information with last week.

The 33-year-old has been, baring a blip against Tottenham, in fine form for Manchester United this season as Sir Alex Ferguson continues to struggle with a defensive injury crisis.

Davide Astori has between an integral part of the Cagliari team since joining in 2008, and turned down a €15 million move to Spartak Moscow during the summer. His recent displays in Serie A have garnered plaudits but seemingly not international recognition.

Fiorentina captain Manuel Pasqual has proved pivotal in Viola's impressive start to the 2012-12 Serie A season with his charging runs from left-back but has regularly found himself out of the Italy squad - making just two appearances in six years.

MIDFIELD

Juan Mata is the victim of an abundance of talent. Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque has said the Chelsea man's exclusion is down to a surplus of midfielders already in the squad.

The 24-year-old, who has four goals and six assists in 10 appearances for Chelsea this season - featured for La Roja during their successful Euro 2012 campaign - scoring in the 4-0 victory over Italy in the final - and also took part in his country's less impressive showing at the Olympic Games.

Arsenal vice-captain Mikel Arteta has never recieved a cap for Spain. While Mata was given the courtesy of a reason for his recent snub, the former Everton man doesn't even appear to be on Del Bosque's radar.

The midfielder has perfectly complemented countryman Santi Cazorla after his summer arrival at the Emirates Stadium, stepping further back into a more defensive-minded role to promote the former Malaga man's attacking prowess.

Highly rated 22-year-old Yann M'Vila seemed destined for a move away from Rennes during the summer, with both Arsenal and Tottenham heavily linked, but a switch never materialised. Unfortunately for fans of the Ligue 1 club, the transfer speculation appears to have distracted the midfielder, with his performances not living up to last season's standards. Subsequently he has only started half of Rennes' games, with an international call-up slipping further away by the week.

ATTACK