Unplayed Stars: a Look at World Cup Benchwarmers

WHO:

ESPN - The article discusses players who did not participate in matches during the World Cup.

WHAT:

Goal.com - The 23rd World Cup was won by Spain for the second time in their history.

Goal.com - The tournament featured 104 matches over 39 days.

Goal.com - ESPN named an entire XI of what they called "the biggest flops" during the tournament.

Goal.com - Uruguay's Fernando Muslera topped the list of biggest flops due to three costly errors that led to goals.

Goal.com - Germany's Joshua Kimmich was criticized for being played out of position.

Goal.com - The Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk missed a decisive penalty in the shoot-out against Morocco.

Goal.com - England's Marc Guéhi was described as looking sluggish in the semi-final.

Goal.com - American Christian Pulisic never recovered his level after an early injury.

Goal.com - Brazil's Neymar played only 37 minutes during the tournament, and ESPN questioned the point of his presence, stating his selection was "wrong in every respect."

ESPN - The focus is on players who played no minutes at the World Cup, highlighting them as the "unlucky few."

WHERE:

ESPN - The context is set within the World Cup, a global football tournament held in various locations.

WHEN:

ESPN - The article does not specify any dates related to past events but may reference future World Cup events.

WHY:

ESPN - The reasons for players not participating could include team strategy, injuries, or coaching decisions, though specific reasons are not detailed in the articles.

HOW:

ESPN - The selection process for players in matches is influenced by coaching decisions and team dynamics, though specific methods are not elaborated upon in the articles.

Spain has claimed their second World Cup title, triumphing in a tournament that featured 104 matches over 39 days. ESPN has highlighted an entire XI of what they termed "the biggest flops" of the event, with Uruguay's Fernando Muslera leading the list due to three critical errors that resulted in goals. Other notable mentions include Germany's Joshua Kimmich, who faced criticism for being out of position, and the Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk, who missed a decisive penalty in the shoot-out against Morocco.