Lionel Messi and Co. may miss 2018 World Cup as Argentina struggle to qualify — here are seven other major nations who missed out on tournaments
South American giants are outside qualification and play-offs and face massive job to make it to Russia for showpiece
ARGENTINA could be set to sensationally miss out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
Despite boasting the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria, the 3-0 defeat to Brazil was their fourth of the campaign and leaves them outside the play-off places in sixth place.
With the likes of Paraguay, who are not to be underestimated, are beneath them, Argentina are in serious trouble.
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The thought of a World Cup without one of the best teams, and the best player seems unimaginable — but it’s happened before.
Here are other major nationalities to miss out on tournaments
England — USA 94 and Euro 2008
EVERY Three Lions fan remembers where they were when Steve McClaren stood under his umbrella on the touchline during the 3-2 defeat to Croatia during that wet, November night.
A calamitous error from debutant goalkeeper, Scott Carson, saw England go 2-0 down in a match they had to win.
Goals from Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch briefly brought the hosts level, but Mladen Petric netted Croatia’s winner 13 minutes from time.
But 12 years earlier, the same thing had happened.
A 2-0 defeat to Holland meant England needed to beat San Marino by seven clear goals and hope Poland beat the Dutch at home.
The Three Lions conceded within in a minute but Ian Wright hit four as they recovered to win 7-1 — and just missed out.
But Holland beat Poland anyway.
Holland — World Cup 2002 and Euro 2016
JASON McATEER’S was the hero as his winner for ten-man Ireland against the Dutch allowed the Boys in Green to emerge from the group of death.
The result meant Louis van Gaal’s men had to win their final two matches — at home against Estonia and Andorra — and hope the Irish lost at home to Cyprus.
Holland did their part, but Ireland won 4-0.
And 14 years later, the Dutch sensationally failed to qualify for a tournament that would include the likes of Albania and Northern Ireland.
There were 24 teams at Euro 2016 — the most at any European competition.
But Holland finished below Turkey, Czech Republic and Iceland.
Maybe England’s defeat to the Scandinavians wasn’t all that embarrassing.
France — Italia 90 and USA 94
FRANCE suffered the indignity of finishing behind Scotland in their Italia 90 qualifying group.
The Scots faced the wrath of the French in Paris when the likes of Didier Deschamps and Eric Cantona scored in a 3-0 win.
But Mo Johnston’s brace in Glasgow was enough for Andy Roxburgh’s men to sneak through.
And four years later, France missed out in the cruellest fashion possible.
Bulgaria were the visitors in their final match — and anything but a victory for the Eastern Europeans would see the French through to the USA.
The game was level at 1-1 with just seconds remaining. Boss Gerard Houllier told David Ginola to take the ball into the corner flag.
But the winger refused and overhit a cross which allowed Bulgaria to counter and nick a dramatic winner.
Italy — Euro 92
THE Azzurri finished below the Soviet Union and missed out on qualification.
Italy had been crowned world champions just ten years earlier.
However, this was the second European Championships in three editions they had failed to qualify for.
Though, they did reach the semi-finals at Euro 88 in between.
They have only ever failed to qualify for the World Cup on one occasion — 1958 — and they also missed out on the Euros in 1964, 1972 and 1976.
Portugal — France 98
HOW can a team with Luis Figo, Sergio Conceicao and Manuel Rui Costa not find a way past Gerry Taggart’s Northern Ireland.
Portugal’s 0-0 draw in Belfast seriously hampered their chances of qualification.
And they would eventually finish below Ukraine and miss out on the biggest stage of all.
In terms of the quality available, this has to have been one of the greatest omissions.
Portugal’s ‘Golden Generation’ — who had finished as runners up in the 1994 Under-21 Championship — was littered with talent.
However, they would all be outshone by one Cristiano Ronaldo less than 20 years later.
Spain — Euro 92
ONLY the first-placed teams qualified for Sweden, but Spain actually finished THIRD.
France won the group and Czechoslovakia finished second.
Spain lost four of their seven games.
One of their defeats was even against Iceland.
This was even more shocking given the talent at their disposal, which made up the majority of Johan Cruyff’s 1992 European Cup-winning Barcelona ‘Dream Team’.
While Spain also won an Olympic gold medal.
Germany — Euro 68
YEP, this is it, folks.
The one major tournament Germany failed to qualify for.
They finished below eventual finalists Yugoslavia after a disappointing draw in Albania.
This year was also notable as Germany struck their first-ever win over England — and haven’t looked back since.
They have qualified for 12 Euros, and have won, finished as runners-up, reached the semi-finals and been eliminated at the group stage three times each.
And their World Cup record reads: Played 18, won four, beaten finalists four times, third place four times, quarter-finalists twice, second group stage once and first round once.
Not too shabby at all.