The defenders will have to struggle with Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku, Neymar, Lionel Messi or even Sadio Mané in the Gulf, but they will avoid crossing paths with several fine triggers raging in the biggest championships, starting with Salah.

The Pharaohs of Egyptian striker Liverpool, finalist of the last African Cup of Nations, failed in their quest for qualification by collapsing, collectively and individually, in a completely failed penalty shootout against the Senegal.

At 29, the elegant N.10 will have to wait four more years before playing, why not, a second World Cup after that of 2018, completed in Russia with an elimination in the first round.

Ibrahimovic certainly defies time, but the next World Cup in 2026 in Canada, the United States and Mexico appears too distant a horizon for the 40-year-old Swedish giant.

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the play-off match between Sweden and the Czech Republic on March 24, 2022 in Solna Jonathan NACKSTRAND AFP/Archives

Donnarumma at dock

The AC Milan center-forward, whose team fell through in the play-offs against Robert Lewandowski's Poland, nevertheless took care not to announce his international retirement, from which he left last year after a long break of more than four years.

"I will continue as long as I can," proclaimed the former Paris SG striker after confiding his "panic" last week at the idea of ​​hanging up.

Same charisma, same build, but much younger, Haaland (21) will not have the opportunity to show his finishing talent in Qatar either.

Norway failed to qualify and Borussia Dortmund's N.9, top scorer in the last Champions League, will have to settle for the more limited stakes that await him in the club.

Norwegian Erling Haaland during a friendly match against Armenia, March 29, 2022 in Oslo Håkon Mosvold Larsen NTB/AFP/Archives

The Old Continent will also keep at home its recent European champion, Italy, and its roster of stars ranging from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to captain Giorgio Chiellini, via midfielder Jorginho, devastated by the catastrophic elimination in the play-offs against to North Macedonia.

In Africa, the great disappointment of Algeria keeps Riyad Mahrez away from the biggest competition in selection football.

The Ivorians Sébastien Haller and Nicolas Pépé will also miss the call, like Victor Osimhen with Nigeria.

South America has also lost two historical representatives, with Colombia by James Rodriguez, whose goal against Venezuela (1-0) was not enough, and Chile by Arturo Vidal and Claudio Bravo.

© 2022 AFP