Forty of the best players in Europe... and not a SINGLE England player among them! UEFA tell us what they really think of our chances in Brazil.

Someone get Roy Hodgson on the phone. Let him know that UEFA have sent a covert message: don't bother going to Brazil next summer, you've absolutely no chance of winning it.
Europe's governing body's latest gimmick is for supporters to pick who they think make up the continent's Team of the Year from an extensive list of 40.
While there are a selection of Premier League heavyweights to choose from, not a SINGLE Englishmen is deemed worthy of breaking into Michel Platini's inner sanctum.

Snub: Not a single England international has made Uefa's top 40 players in Europe

Cast aside: Roy Hodgson's captain, Steven Gerrard (right), was short of making the list despite an impressive renaissance

Left out: Wayne Rooney has scored 24 goals for club and country in 2013

Steven Gerrard, that means you. Wayne Rooney, you've not been good enough - despite the Manchester United striker netting 24 goals since the turn of the year.
Yes, not on a par with Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo but enough to warrant inclusion in the top 12 frontmen.
Ashley Cole, you're edged out. Leighton Baines - courted severely by United in the summer and seen as one of the better left-backs in world football - is nowhere near it.
Snub after snub after snub for the England men, who are seen as unfashionable by the big cheeses in Nyon.
This news comes on the same day as David Luiz told Sportsmail that he feels Hodgson's team can go to Brazil and win it.
‘It can be [their time],’ the Brazilian defender said.
‘I’ll tell you one thing about England, the people never believe! You have a mix of experience players, young players, amazing talent.
'Why not? Why don't you believe? Why doesn't everyone say, “we can go there and win?”'
Quite right, David. If only to prove Platini's cronies wrong.
Hodgson won't allow the negativity towards his team from the powers that be bother him though. It is the sort of very public dismissal that drives teams on.
England performers have done well in 2013. They look a more coherent unit together internationally and have blossomed at club level individually just as much as previous years.
Uefa's decision not to have at least one Englishman in their 40 is barbaric, but Roy should pin the nominees to the dressing room wall before that first game in Brazil. 

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In: Mario Mandzukic, sent off for Bayern Munich at the weekend, is included in the top 40

Bustling: Atletico Madrid's Filipe Luis (right) gets a place ahead of England's premier left-backs

Test? Nemanja Matic plies his trade in the Portuguese league with Benfica

PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS PICKED

Petr Cech (Chelsea)
David de Gea (Man Utd)
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)
Vincent Kompany (Man City)
Yaya Toure (Man City)
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Sergio Aguero (Man City)
Robin van Persie (Man Utd)

Supporters are urged to vote for who they think would make a best XI of players almost exclusively playing in the Champions League.
Not only do England's stars get the boot, so too do some of our top flight's top performers. Only eight are included.
Luis Suarez, for example, is nowhere to be seen. Neither are Juan Mata, Oscar or David Silva.
Chelsea do come off well in the goalkeeper department.
Petr Cech is in a list of four to be crowned the best stopper in Europe - and battles against Thibaut Courtois - on loan at Atletico Madrid from Stamford Bridge.
But it is the distinct lack of England players to cause real unrest. There are serious arguments to present the case for Rooney's inclusion, Cole instead of Filipe Luis and Gerrard over Nemanja Matic. 
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THE FORTY BEST PLAYERS ON THE CONTINENT (ACCORDING TO UEFA)

GOALKEEPERS - Petr Cech, Thibaut Courtois, David de Gea, Manuel Neuer

DEFENDERS - David Alaba, Giorgio Chiellini, Dante, Mats Hummels, Branislav Ivanovic, Philipp Lahm, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Filipe Luis, Vincent Kompany, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva

MIDFIELDERS - Gareth Bale, Ilkay Gundogan, Isco, Paul Pogba, Mesut Ozil, Menaja Matic, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Reus, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Yaya Toure

STRIKERS - Sergio Aguero, Edinson Cavani, Diego Costa, Falcao, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski, Mario Mandzukic, Jackson Martinez, Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie
The nominees were chosen by UEFA.com staff writers on the basis of their performances for a European club or national side in 2013.

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