The article highlights a dream lineup of talented players from countries that failed to qualify for the World Cup, showcasing their remarkable skills and contributions to their clubs.

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy's captain and a top keeper at Manchester City, struggled in a critical playoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina, failing to save any penalties despite his heroics in Euro 2020.

Defenders:

• Jordi Alba (23), an agile left-back/right-back for Real Sociedad, had a standout Copa América 2024 but saw Venezuela miss out on World Cup playoffs by two points.
• Jonathan Tah (27), a center-back for Bayer Leverkusen, excelled under Xabi Alonso but couldn't help Burkina Faso secure their first World Cup.
• Calafiori, who moved to Arsenal, played a pivotal role in their title win but will spend summer recovering from Italy’s disappointment.
• Kerkez (22), a modern attacking full-back for Liverpool, had consistent performances but Hungary finished third in their group.

Midfielders:

• Baleba emerged as a key player for Brighton and Cameroon, yet missed out on the finals.
• Núñez, the creative force for Ipswich and Chile, stands as a bridge to the future for his national team as they transition from their golden generation.
• Szoboszlai, a standout for Liverpool, faced a setback as Hungary extended their 40-year absence from the World Cup despite his impressive contributions.

Forwards:

• Lookman, who shone at the Europa League, became a transfer target after his performance for Nigeria, but they failed to qualify for successive World Cups.
• Victor Osimhen, now at Galatasaray, scored eight in qualifying but missed crucial matches due to injury, affecting Nigeria's chances.
• Kvaratskhelia, a two-time Champions League winner, scored twice in qualifying but couldn't help Georgia avoid a distant third in their group.