Best current footballer never to have played in an international tournament?

Huge discussion about this in the pub the other day during Russia v Spain.

Basically they have to be:

- Still playing and not publically retired from international football (e.g. not Giggs, Hartson)

- Not yet played in World Cup, Euros, Asia Cup, African Nations final tournament. We had an argument about the Copa America as technically you dont qualify for it, but in the end we decided it was ok.

- If they are available for selection but the coach didn't pick them thru injury or lack of form etc (e.g. Le Tissier at say Euro 96 or Stevie Carr at WC2002) then it doesn't count and they can't be considered.

Obviously a few years ago it would have been Shevchenko, Giggs etc...

But we were struggling to even make double figures

Vincent Kompany (BEL)
Goran Pandev (MKD)
Edgaras Jankauskas (LTH)
Eidur Gudjohnsen (ICE)
Julian de Guzman (CAN)
Zvjezdan Misimovic (BIH)
Marcelo Moreno (BOL) (the young guy who's just been signed by Shaktar)
Duwayne De Rosario (CAN)
Mario Frick (LIE)
Mikel Forssell (FIN)
Jari Litmanen (FIN)
Yossi Benayoun (ISR)
Lorik Cana (ALB)
Erjon Bogdani (ALB)
Alex Hleb (ARS)
Daniel Braaten (NOR)
Edgar Manucharyan (ARM)
Marek Hamsik (SVK)


I think both Marouane Chamakh and Tarik Sektioui played in the ANC earlier this year for Morocco as did Ziani for Algeria in 2004.

Of that I'd say Pandev or Hleb was the best, any thoughts ?

Marcelinho, Brazilian midfielder, Bundesliga player of the year 2004/05, iirc.
Balasz Dzsudzsak, Hungarian player for PSV.
Samir Nasri, yet to play for France in the Euros.
David Healy, you can't argue with his international goalscoring record.
Robert Vittek, Slovakian striker.

Canada played in the North American Gold Cup last year, are you sure De Guzman and De Rosario didn't play?

Kuno Aguero
Elano
Micah Richards

About Marcelinho, technically he could have been selected for Brazil in 2006 so I think that means he's excluded (like Le Tissier 96 and Carr 02).

Dzsudzsak is a good shout, as are compatriots Gera Zoltan and maybe Kirali Gabor (of grey Asda tracksuit bottom fame).

Healy's correct top scorer in the last set of qualifiers.

Nasri, although yet to play, has been a part of France's squad in this campaign, and even if he had been ommited would be a similar situation to Marcelinho.

On Vittek you're right, there is Marek Mintal too another Slovakian at Nurnburg.

Yeah the gold cup knocks out the two Canadians.

Mohammed Kallon of Ruwanda would be considered too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

About Marcelinho, technically he could have been selected for Brazil in 2006 so I think that means he's excluded (like Le Tissier 96 and Carr 02).

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I think he was in self-enforced exile for a number of years. AFAIK, he hasn't played for Brazil since 2001.

Best player in the World who'll never play in a major finals has to be.....

Stephen Ireland :)

From the players given in the first post I would have to say Jari Litmanen.

Gianfranco Zola? Did he ever play in a major tournament?

He played in World Cup 94 and Euro 96 afair

Tomasz Radzinski? Fairly solid striker, outscored Rooney at Everton, still playing in the Greek league

Vidic? I dont think he played in the World Cup 2006 due to suspension and injury, but could be wrong.

^ named in squad (I think) but withdrew to injury during training (like Vucinic)

I would give it to Hleb

Daniel Van Buyten? Solid defender in Germany, plays for Belgium

Think Danny Van B was at WC2002 with Belgium, wasnt he ?

Mikel Arteta

Pato
Raul Garcia
McGeady
Defoe
Diego

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

Think Danny Van B was at WC2002 with Belgium, wasnt he ?

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He was, my mistake, thought he was too young to have played there, but he was 24 and played in every game for Belgium

Bellamy
Barry Ferguson
Craig Gordon
Steffan Iverson?
John Arne Riise
Daniel Agger
Morten Gamst Pedersen
John Carew
Nicolas Bendtner

^ I think Carew, Iversen and Riise were all in the Euro 2000 squad of Norway ?