Best players who never made it to a major finals

osarusan

The 'best players in the world' thread had number of posts arguing that a huge part of a player's legacy is what he achieved at international level.

Now, for the most part, the great players come from international footballing powers, but there are still many who didn't get a chance to display their skills at a major international tournament (meaning - World Cup, Euros, Copa America.. African Cup of Nations?)

Off the top of my head (in no orer really, just typing them as they come to me):
Best, Weah (can't remember what Liberia did in African Cup of Nations. EDIT: seems like he played and scored in 2002 at least), Giggs, Rush, Brady, Giles, Litmanen....

who else?

dobman88

Cantona would nearly fall into this category. The only major he played in was Euro 92 (I think). France didn't qualify for WC in '90 or '94 and Cantona got suspended for kicking a fan in '95, missing Euro '96 because Zidane took his place.

Matt Le Tissier is surely ranked up there? Only earned 8 caps and didn't make the squad for France '98, criminal stuff!

Absoluvely

John Arne Riise

Oranage2

George Best


Now everybody thank me!

Absoluvely

Oranage2 wrote: »

George Best


Now everybody thank me!

OP mentioned Best.

BMMachine

Ryan Giggs and Ian Rush are the first that spring to mind. Gareth Bale will be too. Poor Wales

dobman88

BMMachine wrote: »

Ryan Giggs and Ian Rush are the first that spring to mind. Gareth Bale will be too. Poor Wales

Giggs and Rush bot mentioned in OP.

Do people not read past the thread title?

Liam O

BMMachine wrote: »

Ryan Giggs and Ian Rush are the first that spring to mind. Gareth Bale will be too. Poor Wales

With Bale and Ramsey to build around, they could surprise people in a couple of years. They'll probably be 3rd or 4th seeds though which will potentially stop them progressing.

Di Stefano and Duncan Edwards

tomaussie

George Weah.

earlytobed

David Bardsley

shrewdness

sugarman wrote: »

I reckon they'll make euro 2016 with the expansion of 24 teams. Top 2 teams qualify and 3rd gets a playoff. So very good chance.

Back on topic,

Falcao.

Almost certain to miss this summers world cup, and at 28 will be 32 IF Colombia manage to qualify for 2018. Considering they haven't since 98 till now.

He's surely played in the Copa America?

Such a shame he'll probably miss this World Cup, but Columbia have a very decent team at the minute so hopefully he will have a chance for the next one.

CSF

Paul Peschisolido.

galwaylad14

I was going to say Roy Keane but he played in 1994 didn't he?

Mr.Nice Guy

Liam Brady never featured in a major tournament.

Jari Litmanen also came to mind for me. He was great at his peak. I used to love watching him on Eurosport.

I am pie

Le Tissier
Ginola
Hyppia
Cantona & Giggs

smileyj1987

galwaylad14 wrote: »

I was going to say Roy Keane but he played in 1994 didn't he?

If Roy keane had of never played at a major tournament then it would have been his own fault .

Liamalone

Neville Southall

DazMarz

Stevan Jovetic. Maybe not as brilliant as some, but a talented player nonetheless who has never been to a major tournament.

Mirko Vucinic. Same boat as Jovetic being from Montenegro means he has never played in a major tournament.

CSF

DazMarz wrote: »

Stevan Jovetic. Maybe not as brilliant as some, but a talented player nonetheless who has never been to a major tournament.

Mirko Vucinic. Same boat as Jovetic being from Montenegro means he has never played in a major tournament.

So now we are just naming kinda good players who have never been to a major championship?

That list is endless.

Too Tough To Die

Kenny Miller

764dak

CSF wrote: »

Paul Peschisolido.

Hmm, if people consider continental tournaments (Copa America, Euro) as major finals then Peschisolido shouldn't be considered because he played in 4 Gold Cup games for the Canadian team that won the 2000 Gold Cup.

Sunglasses Ron

Andy Cole would be a glaring omission.

To provide some perspective Heskey managed to appear in three :pac:

irishmover

Steve Bruce was never even capped by England let alone go to a major tournament.

Turtwig

Shevchenko.

The_Kew_Tour

Bernd Schuster

He was on Euro 80 winning side but never got play WC.

I know he played in major final but world cup is still holy grail.

K4t

smileyj1987 wrote: »

If Roy keane had of never played at a major tournament then it would have been his own fault .

If Roy Keane had played at South Korea/Japan, Ireland would have won the world cup.

Edit: Got to the final.

Sunglasses Ron

Jernal wrote: »

Shevchenko.

wc 2006 no?

Scorpion Sting

Jernal wrote: »

Shevchenko.

Sunglasses Ron wrote: »

wc 2006 no?

Sheva played in 2 major finals; World Cup 2006 and Euro 2012.

Alfred Borden

Alfredo Di Stefano never played in a world cup would be a big one. David Ginola never did either and only had 17 caps.

lala88

me

ricero

lee trundle