Some of them spent most of last season injured (Hargreaves , Totti) so it`s not such a big surprise. Others like Benzema ,Ronaldinho , Diego,Van Nistelrooy had a bad season and there are a couple of players i`ve never managed to understand why there a considered good (kuranyi)
But there indeed some bg surprises in the list. Marcelo , Cambiasso, Nasri and to a lesser extend Pato
It's all a matter of alternative. Benzema had a bad season? Yes, at Real Madrid. But Domenech took players that are far worst than him like Gignac who scored 4 golas this season for Toulouse in the french league, and Jimmy Briand 4 goals for Rennes.
Why Ronaldinho had a bad season? This was his best season since the last world cup. 10 goals and 15 assists (1st in Serie A) in 35 games for Milan. Pato is a better striker than any af the players that Dunga took. Also, Alex played great for Chelsea this season and was forgotten.
Van Nistelrooy played good since moving to Hamburg and player like him, who gave so much to the NT, deserved to be in his last WC. Surely, when lesser players like Eljero Elia and Jeremain Lens are there instead of him.
I Agree about Hargreaves but Totti came back few weeks ago and looked fine, even scored in a few games (Same as van Persie who was invited). If the coach rates you then they are willing to wait even if you are coming out of injury like Cesk, Torres and Gareth Barry.
Well, Kuranyi did scored 18 league goals in 28 games and was lethal for Shalke this season. While Padolsi scored 2!! goals this season, didn't have a good year since 2006 and was still called up.
Cambiasso, Zanetti and Nasri staying home is plain stupid.