Anthony Martial may have expected to miss out on the World Cup squad, but that doesn't make it hurt any less.
The Manchester United star hasn't been named in a France squad for over a year now and was left on the bench for both of those games. You have to go back to June 2021 for his last cap. It's hardly surprising given his form in 2021 and the first half of 2022 was pretty dreadful.
Martial struggled at United scoring just one goal and then flopped on loan at Sevilla after being signed in the hope he could help them build on a strong start to the season and secure an unlikely La Liga triumph. Add that to his injury problems and the wealth of attacking talent at Didier Deschamps' disposal then it's no surprise at all that he won't be in Qatar.
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But logic and expectations do little to take the sting away. Despite all the drawbacks to the latest edition of the World Cup, it's still the World Cup and it's every player's dream to play in them.
An in-form Martial may have done enough to earn a spot, too. In six games this season he has six goal contributions and United have always been a more dynamic, cohesive attacking unit when he's been on the pitch. But his injuries have derailed his season.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined with three different ailments. After a strong pre-season, he looked primed to lead the line from the off but missed the opening two games with a hamstring problem.
Martial returned for a match-winning second-half cameo against Liverpool as his introduction gave the side added impetus and he set up the winning goal. Then an Achillies irritation would keep him out for the next seven games.
He once again returned in style, scoring twice against Manchester City to take the sting out of the derby day humiliation. He grabbed another strike off the bench against Omonia Nicosia and then made his first start against Everton, teeing up Antony's opener.
But he had got injured again in the warm-up and managed just 29 minutes before he was once again forced to the treatment table. Now he has returned for the third time, scoring on just his second start of the season as he clinically swept home Bruno Fernandes' pass to level the scores against Aston Villa.
It's been the case all season that United are much more energetic, deadly and exciting when they have the athletic and intricate Martial on the pitch rather than the static Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag laid out exactly what makes him so good in his Fulham press conference.
"He plays very well in a lot of aspects of football, I’m happy with that, except his availability," the Dutchman said. “But we also have others and we have played with Marcus Rashford as the nine. We also have Cristiano Ronaldo, so we have more options there.
"It’s quite clear in my way of playing, I like the type that Anthony Martial is because he can hold the ball, he’s a target, he can link up, he can also run behind, he has speed, he can finish and he’s a good presser.”
It's interesting to think how much better off United would be now if Martial had been available for the entirety of the season. Would they have finished top of their Europa League group? Be higher in the league? Not suffered as many embarrassing defeats?
We'll never know the answer to those questions but what Martial can work towards now is doing all he can to be available for the rest of the campaign. Though it will be heartbreaking not to go to the World Cup, the striker now has a rare opportunity that is seldom handed out during the season.
There is one more game to go in which he can hopefully get some minutes and goals and if he comes through that unscathed he then has over a month until United are back in action to put the hard work in. If he can get back to his full fitness, work out any kinks or niggles and be ready to play consistently once domestic football returns then he could help United really push on in the second half of the season.
It was doubted for a time but Martial has proven he still has the quality to be a success at Old Trafford, now he just needs to find the fitness.
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