Come the 20th of November, all eyes will be on Qatar as the 2022 World Cup begins. All the major European football leagues will stop for just over one month as 32 nations battle it out for the biggest prize in football.
However, not all the big name players will be participating in the tournament and some will be having a break from competitive action. That could prove to be beneficial for both the players and teams when the club season resumes after the World Cup.
The top 20 players that will miss out on the Qatar 2022 World Cup! 😓Gutted! pic.twitter.com/IsMHhyHjoy— 90min (@90min_Football) April 1, 2022
The top 20 players that will miss out on the Qatar 2022 World Cup! 😓Gutted! pic.twitter.com/IsMHhyHjoy
Erling Haaland is a good example and with Norway not at the World Cup, the striker will have a month to rest. That is great news for Manchester City and bad news for the other 19 Premier League clubs and those competing in the Champions League.
Haaland has started the season on fire and if he is fresh come January, the Norwegian could go on to score an incredible number of goals this season.
Another top Premier League goal scorer who will not be in Qatar is Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian will be devastated not to be leading his country out at the 2022 World Cup but Liverpool will be delighted.
Salah has had an extremely tough schedule recently, with Liverpool playing in every match possible last season plus representing Egypt in different competitions. Salah has not been at his best at the beginning of the 2022/23 season and a month of rest could see the Liverpool forward come back strongly.
David Alaba will not be travelling to Qatar as his country was eliminated at the playoff stage by Wales. Austria have struggled to qualify for the World Cup for some time and it is no surprise to see they have not made it to the tournament. Austria’s lost is Real Madrid’s gain as the experienced defender will have time off in November and December.
With Italy failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, there will be some big name players from their squad having plenty of free time this winter.
Nicolò Barella and Gianluigi Donnarumma are two good examples. Barella is a hard working central midfielder for Inter Milan and regarded as one of the best in his position in Europe.
Donnarumma is the first choice goalkeeper at Paris Saint-Germain and they will be pleased to have their goalkeeper fit and ready to push for the Champions League following the World Cup. Marco Verratti is another Paris based Italian international who will miss out on Qatar.
Victor Osimhen of Napoli, Luis Díaz of Liverpool, and Martin Ødegaard of Arsenal are further examples of top players who will be staying at home during the 2022 World Cup.
The players may not like it but for their managers, it will be pleasing to know they are out of harms way and will be itching to get back on the pitch when the club season resumes.