All-star injured XI missing out on Qatar World Cup in nightmare

Football's elite competition will not feel quite as elite this year.

In exactly a week's time, the World Cup will kick off at the Al Bayt Stadium, when hosts Qatar take on Ecuador in the opening round of the tournament. Yet, the levels of excitement across the footballing world do not appear to be anywhere close to usual.

That may very well be due to the fact the tournament is being held in a country, which not only has a terrible history of human rights issues against migrant workers, women, and members of the LGBTQI+ community, but has been crowbarred into the winter footballing schedule, disrupting European league football. However, the mounting injury list of some of the planet's top stars has also left many fans heartbroken - Daily Star Sport considers an all-star starting XI of players who will miss the tournament.

Our backline and goalkeeper is comprised entirely of huge Premier League stars that will unfortunately have to watch the tournament from home. In fact, it is almost the entire Chelsea backline who cannot be counted on by Graham Potter.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was particularly unfortunate as he looked to be in the best form of his career since his debut season, until a foot injury in the Blues' 4-1 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion consigned him to the sidelines,

Fortunately, he will have plenty of teammates to talk to, as Reece James, Ben Chilwell, and Wesley Fofana were also ruled out by injury. Meanwhile, Aston Villa and Brazilian defender Diego Carlos suffered a serious injury in his debut for the Midlanders and has not kicked a football since - he will not be able to kick one in Qatar either.

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Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has been a long term absentee throughout the season and he would be partnered by Paul Pogba. The France duo were the midfield anchors of Les Bleus' victorious campaign in 2018, but any contribution to Didier Deschamps' World Cup defence will have to be as mere spectators.

They will also be accompanied by Netherland midfield ace and former Liverpool hero Georginio Wijnaldum, who broke his leg at the start of the campaign.

If the Dutchman's injury was not heartbreaking enough, many football fans were left searching for their tissues when they heard Marco Reus was to miss another international competition.

The Borussia Dortmund captain has been cursed by injuries at the worst times, having missed the 2014 World Cup - which Germany went on to win - Euro 2016, and Euro 2020. Unfortunately, he will have to sit out for the third competition in a row.

Fellow German comrade Timo Werner will join him on the sidelines, as the niggling injury he picked up against Club Brugge in RB Leipzig's final Champions League clash, ended his tournament hopes.

To complete the frontline of heartbreak, Liverpool forward Diogo Jota will occupy the left flank of the frontline. His devastating calf injury against Manchester City ended his hopes of competing in his first ever World Cup for Portugal.

Full Starting XI below (4-3-3)

RB: Reece James

CB: Diego Carlos

CB: Wesley Fofana

LB: Ben Chilwell

CM: N'Golo Kante

CM: Paul Pogba

CM: Georginio Wijnaldum

RM: Marco Reus

LM: Diogo Jota

ST: Timo Werner