Greatest Player Never To Have Played In A World Cup

[England's No.1]

Reading a post from welshspur about how Wales never make it to the World Cup got me thinking about the best player never to have played in a World Cup. There is the obvious George Best, but one of my faves is Ian Rush. Anyone else got any other contenders out there?

[welshspur]

hiya,

well on the theme of wales never qualifying for anything guess an obvious choice for me has to be ryan giggs! Would have been a cert for england had he been english of course - no doubts england would have won the euro champs in 96 with him in their side! Yes rushie would be up there too - next to the incomparable greavsie the best striker to have played in english club football i think!

Leaving aside countries like wales i think george weah has to come into consideration!

( sorry but cant bring myself to include gooners like liam brady lol! )

[Chinaman]

No, Greaves did play in the early matches in the 1966 WC. He played in 2 games. but was ineffective, and Geoff Hurst took over. Greaves actually was still feeling the effects of a bout of jaundice at the time.

[DarlinginJapan]

No, Greaves did play in the early matches in the 1966 WC. He played in 2 games. but was ineffective, and Geoff Hurst took over. Greaves actually was still feeling the effects of a bout of jaundice at the time.

I don't think he was saying Greaves never played in the World Cup (he played (and scored his only World Cup goal) in 1962 as well), just that Rush compared to Greaves in quality. Not sure I agree with Welsh, though....

[mjbmedia]

teddy sheringham, not that im biased btw did Glen hoddle actually 'play' in a finals match?

[SurreySpur]

Teddy started for england in the 98 world cup before being replaced by owen in the final group stage match. Glenn played in finals games for england. He was fouled just before maradona's amazing solo goal against us. Hoddle was in the 82 and 86 squads.

[Welsh Spur]

Ryan Giggs. I'm Welsh. Aside, George Best.

Seeing as this question reares it's head every four years, how about this for a predictive question?

The best current player who won't ever play at the finals?

[Spur]

Timothee Atouba.

How long we had two welsh spurs?

[Welsh Spur]

since ages. the other one PM'd me apologising! Even offered to change his name! You can tell the difference though, I have a space in my name.

[shoot_ffs]

defoe!! gggrrrrr sven

[Welsh Spur]

defoe!! gggrrrrr sven

I didn't think it would take long....!

[sundancer]

Can only be one GEORGE BEST.

[Danishspurs]

Ledley King...

[highlander]

did Stephen Freund ever make it to the finals

[Billywhizz]

George Best would have took the world by storm.

[mjbmedia]

Teddy started for england in the 98 world cup before being replaced by owen in the final group stage match. Glenn played in finals games for england. He was fouled just before maradona's amazing solo goal against us. Hoddle was in the 82 and 86 squads.
ahhh i must get a new memory lmao

[Welsh Spur]

did Stephen Freund ever make it to the finals

I believe he may have, but even if he didn't, he aint nowhere near the greatest player to never play!

[Spur]

Greatest player never to score for Spurs....

[Welsh Spur]

Ok, that I might agree with.

[Spur]

I actually just thought that Diego Maradona has technically played for Spurs...but did he score?

[Welsh Spur]

I don't think so. But I'm not sure either.

Talking of legends, I never thought I'd see Davids in a Spurs shirt, it was even better watching him score! Hope that goal doesn't turn out to be the only one he scores for us!

[England's No.1]

How is he gonna score another for us now?

[Welsh Spur]

Coz the only spec I've heard is Henk ten Cate (Ajax boss) sayin he wants him....

the only thing I've heard Davids say is "next year we'll come back stronger"
-post West Ham defeat.

[DonJolSpurano]

did Stephen Freund ever make it to the finals

i think he did in 98, maybe 94 also. i knw he was in euro 96.

[England's No.1]

Coz the only spec I've heard is Henk ten Cate (Ajax boss) sayin he wants him....

the only thing I've heard Davids say is "next year we'll come back stronger"
-post West Ham defeat.
I hate to admit it, but I don't think we'll see him in a Spurs shirt next season. Not that his form was great, but he seems to be good at coaching the kids.

[spurs61]

Tsk, this is an easy one, Best is run a very close second by Alfredo Di Stefano who, despite playing for three different nations (yes 3!!) never actually featured in a World Cup.

[gazzaG8]

Also being welsh i could list a fair few, Giggsy being the obvious candidate
also Sparkey, Neville Southall & John Toshack but probably the
greatest player to play in one world cup is
Paul Gascoigne

[welshspur]

what with me, welsh spur and gazza G8 seems like us taffs are taking over the forum lol! course harry hotspur - who we get our wonderful name from - was an ally of the welsh national hero owain glyndwr in his war with the then english king, so all patriotic welsh people should really be spurs as well lol!

[WelshSpur82]

Lee Trundle ???

[WelshSpur82]

Ha Ha !!!!

[Welsh Spur]

On the welsh side of things....who gets your support lads, swansea or cardiff?

[welshspur]

from swansea so got to be the team in white welsh mate!

[Welsh Spur]

Glad you said that, hate the blue scum.....automatic promotion for us next season?