The 11 stars who could miss out on the World Cup

1. Pepe

One of the biggest absences from the Portugal squad list. The centre-back is currently sidelined with a fractured toe, that will keep him out of action for at least four more weeks. He could make the World Cup, but any complications with his injury will decrease his chances.

2. Gary Cahill

Chelsea's captain is not a favourite of Antonio Conte. Despite being fit all season, the English centre-back has missed almost ten league games for Chelsea, and this has caused him to drop out of the England squad. Whether Gareth Southgate picks him in summer remains to be seen, but it seems Cahill's days may be numbered.

3. Paulo Dybala

The Juventus forward was left out of Sampaoli's latest Argentina squad. The coach's decision could be due to a recent injury concern for Dybala, but the Argentinian is back in the Juve team and in flying form.

4. Daniel Sturridge

Things just never seem to go right for Sturridge. Immediately after making his first appearance for new side West Bromwich Albion, the striker came off injured yet again. Although he may be fit by summer, a combination of injuries and lack of game time could well see the Englishman excluded from Southgate's squad.

5. Mauro Icardi

The absence of Icardi caused as much of a shock as that of Dybala in Argentina. Lautaro and Higuain were both favoured over the Inter star, but with 22 goals scored in 24 games this season, it is hard to understand why Icardi is not in the Argentinian squad.

6. Javier Pastore

The Argentine's lack of minutes (1335) this season for Paris Saint-Germain do not bode well for Pastore's World Cup chances. Both PSG and Argentina's first XI are very hard to break into, and it seems this might mean that the midfielder will stay at home in summer.

7. Marco Reus

The Dortmund star is in the process of making his return after eight months out injured, and has been ignored by Joachim Low for the Germany squad. If he continues to return to the level of form he is capable of, it is likely Low will call him up, but he will have to hope that no further injury problems arise.

8. Manuel Neuer

The German keeper has had a tough year. After injuring himself while playing in the Champions League for Bayern, Neuer was left out of international friendlies in summer. He returned for Bayern at the start of the season, but his recovery had clearly been rushed, and he has been out ever since with a foot problem. He was expected back in March, but he is still out, and it is uncertain if he will be back to fitness in time for Russia.

9. Mario Gotze

Everyone remembers Gotze's World Cup winning goal in Brazil 2014. However, the German has lacked game time at Dortmund this season, playing just 1886 minutes. Gotze will need to finish the season strong if he is in with a chance of making it to Russia.

10. David Luiz

Between his injured ankle and his rumoured fall-out with Antonio Conte, Luiz hasn't been a key member of Chelsea's side this year. With just 17 appearances this season, Tite has left Luiz out of his squad, and the defender faces a battle to feature for Brazil in summer.

11. Danilo

The ex-Madrid man is also missing from Tite's Brazil squad. Despite receiving plenty of gametime from Guardiola, the defender has not really been trusted in the big games. The defender isn't the player he was, and competition is strong for a place in Brazil's squad.