Picking a World Uncapped Best XI

Following the recent international break, a whole new host of players will have become fully-fledged and capped seniors for their respective countries, while still others will have added a couple more caps to an already-overflowing box of football association-endorsed head-wear.

For many footballers, representing their nation is evidence of having reached the pinnacle of their careers, or at the very least being seen as worthy of taking a stab at reaching that point.

Those who make the starting XI for their country on a regular basis are, for all intents and purposes, in the best dozen football players of an entire country—which could be populated by millions.

Strong praise, indeed.

But for some players, the endorsement of their qualities which comes with international football remains frustratingly out of reach.

Whether that is because they are young and not-quite-proven enough as yet, whether because injuries have denied them their chance to impact at international level or merely because their talents have not been recognised at the right moments and now younger, possibly better players have overtaken them.

Some players, remain uncapped. Here is a best XI in world football made up from those unfortunates.

Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer starts us off, ahead of competition from the likes of Kevin Trapp (Germany) and David de Gea (Spain).

Athletic, lithe, with good reflexes and a horrifying propensity to gift soft goals from tame shots, Vermeer has finally established himself as the No.1 goalkeeper for his club at the age of 26.

Vermeer is part of the Holland squad at international level but has not yet been capped—perhaps not surprising given his understudy status at club level for much of the past four or five seasons, save for a loan spell at Willem II.

Italy have always been blessed with a number of top defenders at their disposal, and presently it seems that Cesare Prandelli has so many to choose from that he can afford to ignore the form of two mighty fine full-backs.

On the right side, Mattia De Sciglio has been making waves for AC Milan this season, appearing five times in Serie A so far as he receives plenty of backing from manager Mass Allegri.

Capable of playing both sides of defence but as a natural right-footer more suited to his present position, De Sciglio is good at moving forward with or without the ball, is strong defensively and has already been part of the Italy squad at 19 years of age—but did not get off the bench.

Opposite to him is Juventus left-back Paolo De Ceglie.

De Ceglie played a significant part in Juve's title-winning campaign last season and also took part in Italy's Olympic side back in 2008—but full international recognition has similarly eluded him so far.

Onto the centre backs, with one who will surely become a fully-fledged international within the year and another who might just have missed the boat.

First up, Real Madrid's French centre back Raphael Varane.

The former Lens man has just begun to try to establish himself under Jose Mourinho, playing in both La Liga and the Champions League this season already. He has a real battle on his hands to win a regular position in the team, with some seriously experienced internationals ahead of him, but Varane is an undoubted talent who will flourish sooner or later.

Still a teenager, he has been a regular for France at under-21 level, but he has so far merely been a substitute for the full team.

Matias Silvestre on the other hand is now 28 years old and is eligible for both Argentina and Italy, but he has represented neither.

Having spent three years with Catania and one season with Palermo, Silvestre is this year playing on loan with Inter Milan.

Not called up yet by either country, Silvestre may be one of those who never gets to experience the game at international level.

Our midfield is a diamond—and Arsenal's Mikel Arteta is at its base.

Quite how the Spanish playmaker has never been given even a single opportunity to represent his country is beyond some people, especially fans of the Gunners and Everton, who he has represented with distinction over the past few years.

A marvellous passer of the ball, positionally and tactically far more astute than even two or three seasons ago and perfectly capable of roughing it doing the defensive work, Arteta would probably have surpassed the 50-cap mark in any other generation.

Unfortunately he has to contend against the likes of Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Javi Martinez and plenty more besides—and isn't any better than them.

Two hugely talented and young wide players now in England's Raheem Sterling and France's Antoine Griezmann.

Sterling has broken into the Liverpool first team this season and has impressed enough to be jumped into both the under-21 and the full England squad in the past month, though he has not made his full debut yet for the top side.

Griezmann is now 21 years old and, in time, is likely to play more of his football centrally, either as a supporting or out-and-out forward.

For now, though, he still has an impact on a consistent basis down the left flank, pitching in with both goals and assists from that area of the pitch.

A 10-time France under-21 cap, Griezmann is tipped for big things in the coming years for both club and country.

Another Spanish starlet in the making now in attacking midfielder Isco.

The Malaga man has attracted huge attention because of his goalscoring and performances in the Champions League, but he has long been touted as a top prospect in truth.

Now aged 20, he is still a regular for the under-21 side because of the wealth of talent that the full national side has, but if he gets a consistent season behind him this year he can look forward to pushing for a place in the World Cup 2014 squad next term.

Dribbling ability, movement, passing and shooting—he has all the best attributes for a top class attacker.

To complete our team, a pair of uncapped yet technically superb Argentinians in Mauro Zarate of Lazio and Sergio Araujo of Boca Juniors, on loan at Barcelona B.

Zarate has never been a prolific scorer, but his link up play, work down the channels and on-the-ball ability cannot be in question.

Alongside him a more natural striker and goalscorer in Araujo.

The Boca man has two years in which to impress in Spain and make himself part of the Barcelona side, who have an option to make the loan a permanent move.

Araujo will spend this season with the B team with the aim of progressing for next season. At just age 20 he is a wonderful example of exciting potential, but he has much work to do to prove he can displace any of the first team or even to show that he is more of a benefit to the side than other youngsters such as Gerard Deulofeu.

One thing is for sure—if he has an impact at Barcelona, he won't remain an uncapped international player for long.

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