BBC SPORT | Funny Old Game | World Cup bust-ups



By Piers Newbery BBC Sport Online

Whether they are thrown out, walk out, or don't even make it to the airport, some players always find a way to miss the World Cup.

Roy Keane is the latest example, jetting home after giving Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy an earful.

Keane remains defiant

But whether it be for drug abuse or kebab abuse, political beliefs or tactical differences, some great, and not so great, players have watched the World Cup from the comfort of their sofas.

Paul Gascoigne (England), France 1998
He wasn't the first player to be left out of a World Cup squad, but few have taken the news so badly.

Paul Gascoigne
Gascoigne: Fit as a fiddle

The nation was reeling with the news that Phil Neville had been omitted when it emerged that Paul Gascoigne had resorted to his famous World Cup waterworks after Glenn Hoddle gave him the boot as well. Lack of fitness and over familiarity with Soho kebab shops did for Gazza.

Neville's absence remains a mystery.

Andy Goram (Scotland), France 1998
Andy Goram watched France 1998 in the Jaggy Thistle pub in Blackpool after walking out on the Scotland squad as they were training in New York ahead of the tournament.

The portly keeper's early exit was put down to a disagreement over bonus payments and allegations over his private life, but it was not a major blow to the Scots.

They still had Jim Leighton.

Stefan Effenberg (Germany), USA 1994
Following in the footsteps of Paul Breitner, Bernd Schuster and Lothar Mattheus, Stefan Effenberg announced himself as Germany's latest 'difficult' star in the United States.

Stefan Effenberg
Touchy: Effenberg briefly leaves his hotel

He set his stall out by staying in a different hotel to the rest of the squad, but was soon checking out after flicking the finger to the German fans as he was substituted against Spain.

'Doing an Effe' is now part of everyday German life, while the man himself recently told critical Bayern Munich fans to "kiss my butt".

Diego Maradona (Argentina), USA 1994
When Diego Maradona ran, eyes bulging, towards the camera to celebrate his goal against Greece, the more naïve among us thought he was simply cock-a-hoop at a spectacular return to form.

That may have been the case, but it was not exactly a surprise when after the next game he tested positive for ephedrine.

Bags were swiftly packed and, presumably, a lengthy trip through customs followed.

Ruud Gullit (Holland), USA 1994
The kings of camp unrest, at least in Europe, Ruud Gullit proved to be the surliest of Dutchmen in the early 1990s.

Ruud Gullit
Last call: Gullit changes his mind again

After retiring in 1992 for "personal reasons" he returned for the qualifying campaign, but then retired again when Dick Advocaat substituted him against England.

Only weeks before the finals, the great man swallowed his pride and decided to have one more crack at a World Cup, but found Advocaat's tactics so objectionable that he went off in what turned out to be his last-ever international huff.

Johan Cruyff (Holland), Argentina 1978
Several countries threatened not to travel to Argentina because of the unstable political climate, and England were so outraged they failed to qualify.

But in the end the only notable absentee was Johan Cruyff.

He refused to travel despite huge pressure from sponsors and the Dutch FA, and so set an example of stubbornness his countrymen would live up to in the years to follow.

Willie Johnstone (Scotland), Argentina 1978
When Scotland's Willie Johnstone was expelled from the World Cup he was roundly condemned as a disgrace, although its arguable whether it was more of an embarrassment than the team drawing 1-1 with Iran.

Johnstone ensured the misery for Scotland was not confined to the pitch as he was sent home after failing a random drug test.

He claimed to have only taken a flu tonic, but still faced the unenviable task of arriving home without 21 other players to hide behind.