Statistics released today by EA SPORTS have revealed the best 23 players NOT going to this summer’s FIFA World Cup. The unlucky squad includes Welsh star Gareth Bale, PSG skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic and…Iceland’s Alfred Finnbogason. Comtinue.....
With Europe’s top leagues coming to a close last weekend, many of the world’s top players now turn their attentions to the biggest football stage of all but, while they prepare their passports, some of the game’s leading lights will have to make do with a seat on the sofa after their nations failed to qualify.
To identify those most unfortunate to miss out, EA SPORTS has taken data from all the world’s top leagues and developed a statistical model that scores player performance in areas related to their position on the pitch. The data was then crunched to put together the ultimate 23 player squad NOT at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The data revealed:
- A Welsh spine, with Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale both selected
- The Barclays Premier League is well represented with six players
- A strike force with 87 league goals between them this season
- Liverpool target Henrikh Mkhitaryan one of the star performers
- Iceland’s Alfred Finnbogason outperforming household names up front
Players from across the world were ranked according to their performance in areas related to their position on the pitch, such as tackles won percentage, minutes per goal, and assists.
The research was conducted to celebrate the fact that, in EA SPORTS 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, gamers have the opportunity to take any nation from qualification to World Cup success meaning the fortunes of Bale and Co. are in your hands.
There will be few surprised to see Welsh stars Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey in the squad. Bale has scored 15 and made 12 assists from the wing for Real Madrid this season while Ramsey has completed an incredible 802 passes in the opposition half. Their performances mean that Wales are one of three countries contributing more than one player to the squad, along with Sweden and Poland.
Like any World Cup squad, there are however some surprise inclusions. While football fans across the world are ruing the fact that they won’t see Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Robert Lewandowski at the World Cup, the data shows that Icelandic striker Alfred Finnbogason is the most prolific striker missing, with a minutes per goal rating on a par with Luis Suarez this season. Finnbogason has announced his intention to leave Heerenveen this summer and must wish he had the opportunity to put himself in the shop window this summer.
Looking across the rest of the back four, there are familiar names for Barclays Premier League fans, which contributes three of the four best full backs not at the World Cup. However, while Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic has consistently been one of the world’s best full backs, and Seamus Coleman has enjoyed a break through season for Everton, the inclusion of Norwich City’s Martin Olsson will surprise many. Olsson claims his spot courtesy of an impressive tackles won percentage of 83.33%, and 113 clearances this season, performing defensive duties impeccably in a struggling Norwich team.
Looking across the rest of the back four, there are familiar names for Barclays Premier League fans, which contributes three of the four best full backs not at the World Cup. However, while Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic has consistently been one of the world’s best full backs, and Seamus Coleman has enjoyed a break through season for Everton, the inclusion of Norwich City’s Martin Olsson will surprise many. Olsson claims his spot courtesy of an impressive tackles won percentage of 83.33%, and 113 clearances this season, performing defensive duties impeccably in a struggling Norwich team.
Moving into the middle of the park, and the EA SPORTS squad boasts as strong a midfield as any country competing for the trophy this summer. Led by Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan with 9 goals and 11 assists, the data shows some exceptional midfield talent. Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey caps a sensational season by earning a spot in midfield with nine goals, nine assists and 802 passes in the opposition half. The final midfield spot goes to Poland and ZEC Zwolle’s Mateus Klich, one of three representatives of the Dutch Eredivisie in the squad. Klich has impressed defensively as well as in attack, with 42 interceptions, seven assists and four goals this season.
Moving into the middle of the park, and the EA SPORTS squad boasts as strong a midfield as any country competing for the trophy this summer. Led by Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan with 9 goals and 11 assists, the data shows some exceptional midfield talent. Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey caps a sensational season by earning a spot in midfield with nine goals, nine assists and 802 passes in the opposition half. The final midfield spot goes to Poland and ZEC Zwolle’s Mateus Klich, one of three representatives of the Dutch Eredivisie in the squad. Klich has impressed defensively as well as in attack, with 42 interceptions, seven assists and four goals this season.
The squad in full
- Samir Handanovic
- Petr Cech
- Kossi Agassa
- Branislav Ivanovic
- Martin Olsson
- Seamus Coleman
- Papa Souare
- Mehdi Benatia
- Marko Basa
- Cédric Mongongu
- Martin Skrtel
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan
- Aaron Ramsey
- Mateusz Klich
- Juan Arango
- Szabolcs Huszti
- Jefferson Farfán
- Gareth Bale
- Lasse Schöne
- Alfred Finnbogason
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- Robert Lewandowski
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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