Italy are the reigning European champions but, for the second time in a row, they failed to qualify for the World Cup 2022.
While that was a mighty shock for world football – and the Azzurri as they had to watch the action in Qatar from afar – their domestic league still contributed to some of the success stories.
But which Serie A players stood out the most? Who were the men who ply their trade in Serie A who were most instrumental in World Cup 2022 highlights?
Well, this assortment of talent was the choice of this SBOTOP reporter.
Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina/Morocco)
The plaudits for this man have come from every avenue of the footballing globe and deservedly so.
He was in many a team of the tournament from media organisations to fans alike as Morocco became the first African nations to reach the semi-finals.
Arguably the best defensive midfielder in Qatar, while he narrowly missed out on a medal in the third place play-off, the admirers he and his team secured was emphatic.
The 26-year-old was a rock of dependency in front of his team’s defence, breaking up play and linking brilliantly with the team’s more creative players.
In the last 16, Amrabat was the dominant figure against Spain, keeping close control of the ball in dangerous positions and making some crucial tackles.
In more than eight and a half hours of football, no opposition player scored against them and Amrabat, the best representative of Serie A in Qatar, was a major factor in that.
Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/France)
The first of my Milan-France duo.
Theo Hernandez probably benefited from the misfortune suffered by his brother, Lucas Hernandez, who was ruled out of the tournament after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his team’s opening Group D win over Australia.
Considered by some to be the best left-back in Serie A, Theo then made the position his own in Les Bleus’ campaign as Didier Deschamps’ men came within a penalty shoot-out of defending their world crown.
Olivier Giroud (AC Milan/France)
Like Hernandez, Giroud returned home empty-handed, despite a fine tournament.
With four goals in six games, the striker became the leading goalscorer for his country, overtaking the legendary Thierry Henry, and now has 53 international goals to his name following the quarter-final winner against England.
His one major disappointment came in the final when the striker, alongside teammate Ousmane Dembele, was hooked by Deschamps just before half-time after the pair produced anonymous performances.
Giroud will now return to domestic duties as Milan aim to reclaim the Serie A title.
Adrien Rabiot (Juventus/France)
But for injuries to the likes of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, Rabiot probably wouldn’t have been involved much, if at all, in Qatar.
Yet he picked up from where he left off with his club and managed one goal and one assist in six matches.
A player who Manchester United were reportedly interested in during the summer until ‘unrealistic’ wage demands intervened, he has shown he has something to offer the international side.
Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan/Holland)
Dumfries played every single minute of Holland’s five matches and was a reliable and effective figure for Louis van Gaal’s men.
Never mind he got sent off after the final whistle against Argentina in the quarter-final – that contest had long since become a card fest as a contest of many flashpoints featured 17 yellow cards – he made a positive contribution.
That was most noticeable in the last 16 victory against the USA.
That was when Dumfries set up the first two goals for the Dutch – the former part of a magnificent 21-pass move – before the creator turned scorer, side-footing in a volley to seal a 3-1 victory.
My final choice may surprise you, especially as he did not start any of his team’s five games but, I do find room for…
Rafael Leao (AC Milan/Portugal)
The Portuguese is Milan’s bona fide top star and the plaudits have rained down for some time now – last season’s Player of the Year in Serie A has been described by Milan legend Zvonimir Boban as the ‘Portuguese Mbappe’ – Milan head coach Stefano Pioli says he reminds him of Thierry Henry.
That rare mix of being both exceptionally quick meant it was a surprise that he did not start once in Qatar.
Yet his impact from the bench was clear as he netted his first goals for his national team.
Against Ghana the substitute coolly stroked in just seconds after coming on.
Then, in the last 16, with the World Cup 2022 betting odds all on Ronaldo scoring from the bench, the 23-year-old crowned a dazzling display when he curled in the sixth against Switzerland.
These two performances went some way to illustrating his ability to deliver in big games and a player with further room for growth, and consistency, will surely become a fixture for Portugal in the near future.
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