All the big guns and regulars who won't be at the World Cup

A great  international career ends in tears as Italy failed to reach World Cup finals 

The FIFA World Cup as everybody knows is the biggest party of 2018 with invitations extended only to the best of the best. This year's edition has left a number of regulars to the party out in the cold to rue missed opportunities as they missed the plane to Russia.

ITALY 

A stunned and distraught Italy after draw against Sweden 

It's almost farfetched to think that a little over a decade ago Italian football was at its highest point with the Azzuri claiming a fourth world cup crown putting them just one title behind record holders Brazil.

In the years since then Italy have sinked to lower and lower depths having won just one match at the World Cup finals since that win in 2006. Italy were eliminated at the group stage in successive tournaments first dropping a winnable group failing to win against New Zealand, Slovakia and Paraguay in 2010.

In Brazil they didn't do any better as they dropped points in a group where minnows Costa Rica sprang a surprise as the Italians along with English were sent home early.

The worst was saved for last as Italy, after finishing in second place behind Spain, lost a world cup play-off against a functional Sweden 1-0.

The result meaning one of the most successful teams in World Cup history would miss the World Cup finals for the first time in 60 years.

NETHERLANDS 

Dutch winger Arjen Robben feeling the pain as he retires from international football after the Dutch failed to reach Russia 

The Dutch's fall from grace has been somewhat surprising considering their pedigree at the World Cup and their success at the two previous finals. Oranja were beaten finalists in South Africa and finished third in Brazil four years ago.

On the under though the Netherlands did fail to qualify for Euro 2016 after losing five of their ten qualifying matches. This occured as the Dutch had three coaches within a short space of time as Louis van Gaal was replaced by Guus Hiddink, who later vacated the position in 2015 after his team struggled at the beginning of the Euro qualifiers.

Danny Blind oversaw the remainder of the qualifiers failing to deliver. With their World Cup hopes in jeopardy, Blind was also let go after achieving meagre returns, which included a 3-0 loss to Bulgaria, in 2017 by the then the writing was on the wall as their fate was no longer their hands.

USA 

Christian Pulisić weeping after Trinidad and Tobago shock

Regulars at the world cup finals since 1986 the Stars and Stripes have been one of the most consistent performers and considering they also had experienced relative success making it into the knockout stages at successive World Cup tournaments.

In 2010 they were knocked by Ghana in the last 16, and performed at their best in Brazil as they fought their out of a group which featured Germany, Portugal and Ghana.

In the qualifiers for Russia the USA were shocking in the final round of qualifiers as they couldn't even finish in a play-off spot placing second from bottom after suffering the most humiliating defeat in American soccer history after a 2-1 loss to 99th ranked Trinidad and Tobago.

Ghana

An inconsolable Andrew Ayew as trip to Russia is cancelled 

The Black Stars also joined the reject list after their usually vibrant and enterprising football went missing in a stale world cup qualifying campaign.

The Ghanaians would only win one of their six qualifying games failing to win a single home game which allowed the more consistent Egypt to take top stop in their group.

A sad turn of events after Ghana had made great strides at World Cup in 2006 where they stunned a Czech Republic side, who were second in the world, to move into the last 16 and come very close to becoming the first ever African team to make the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Cote D'ivoire

Try as hard as they might the Elephants couldn't find a way past a sturdy Morocco 

The Ivory Coast have been one of the powerhouses of African football and in what has been their golden era produced talents of the likes Didier Drogba, Solomon Kalou, Yaya and Kolo Toure just to name a few. 

In the time between 2006 and 2018 Cote D'ivoire qualified for three World Cups, were runners-up in two African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals and would finally win the tournament at the third attempt in 2015 bringing  some achievement to one of Africa's best sides.

However, the golden era of Ivorian football couldn't make an impact on the international scene as they failed to move past the group stage of the World Cup finals on all three occasions.

The Ivorians also left the 2017 AFCON in disgrace exiting at the group stage, and their misery was compounded when they fell to Morocco in a 2-0 loss at home waving goodbye to their World Cup dream.