BLUE MOON
Chelsea boss Graham Potter will be without a number of his key figures as he looks to reverse the club's slump during the World Cup break.
The Blues ended the first part of the Premier League season eight points behind fourth-place Tottenham following their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.
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Tony Cascarino believes that Potter’s side are the worst Chelsea team in 10 years and yet the club have among the most representatives in Qatar.
A total of 12 players from Stamford Bridge have jetted off to the Middle East for the winter tournament and here's who they are...
Which Chelsea players will be at the World Cup?
Raheem Sterling
The winger has struggled for form following his move from Manchester City in the summer and was left out of the squad entirely for the defeat to Newcastle on Saturday.
Yet he was unsurprisingly still named in England’s squad for the World Cup having been a key figure in the past under Southgate.
Sterling was England’s player of the tournament during their run to the Euro 2020 final last year and the opening game against Iran could see him win his 80th cap for the Three Lions.
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Mason Mount
Sterling will be joined by his England compatriot in Qatar, with Mount another figure who has struggled for form this season.
The midfielder has only managed two goals in 14 Premier League matches this season but is another regular figure under Southgate.
Mount started the Euro final at Wembley last year, while his second-half introduction spearheaded the thrilling 3-3 draw with Germany back in September.
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Conor Gallagher
The former Crystal Palace loanee is the final Chelsea player to have been named in Southgate's squad and his inclusion was the biggest surprise.
Gallagher - who only earnt the first of his four senior caps in November 2021 - had been overlooked for England's Nations League games in September and instead dropped down to join the U21 side.
Yet his attitude was thought to have impressed Southgate, who also hailed the midfielder's pressing ability to be helpful in Qatar's heat.
Thiago Silva
The 38-year-old may show no signs of slowing down for Chelsea, but this will surely be his last outing for Brazil at a major tournament.
Silva will be making his third appearance at a World Cup, and will be looking to play in the final four for the first time after a quarter-final exit to Belgium at Russia 2018.
The defender was part of the Brazil squad that were hammered by Germany 7-1 on home soil in the 2014 semi's but was suspended for the game.
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Denis Zakaria
The 25-year-old has barely featured for Chelsea this season following his deadline day loan move from Juventus.
Yet Zakaria has been an influential part of Switzerland's current side in recent years, featuring alongside Granit Xhaka in midfield.
Hakim Ziyech
Another Chelsea player on the fringes of first-team action this season, Ziyech will still be Morocco's leading hope in Qatar this winter.
The former Ajax man is returning to international duty having temporarily quit the national team earlier this year due to a falling out with former coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
Kai Havertz
Chelsea's Champions League final hero is now one of Germany's main men in attack as Die Mannschaft look for a record-equalling fifth World Cup.
Havertz netted an impressive 10 goals in his 30 games for his country, which included a brace in that 3-3 draw at Wembley two months ago.
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Christian Pulisic
'The LeBron James of Soccer' descends on Qatar as the poster boy of American football.
Pulisic has just one Premier League goal this term, but will be the man captaining the USA against several of his Chelsea teammates when they face England in Group B.
Mateo Kovacic
Kovacic has arguably been Chelsea's player of the season thus far, and a key figure in Croatia's recent tournament success.
The 28-year-old was influential alongside Luka Modric as his country reached the World Cup final in Russia, but he has struggled with injury recently.
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Edouard Mendy
The Chelsea keeper had only recently reclaimed his spot as Potter's No.1 following an injury suffered to Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Yet his spot tending goal for Senegal has long been assured, having made his debut for the African champions back in 2018.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Mendy once again will be joined by his compatriot, who captained Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations triumph at the start of the year.
Koulibaly has endured a mixed start to life at Chelsea following his summer transfer from Napoli but his experience will still be invaluable for the Lions of Teranga in Qatar.
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Cesar Azpilicueta
The Chelsea captain is the last of the 12 Stamford Bridge stars to be called up to Qatar having been included in Spain's World Cup squad.
The 33-year-old is in the twilight of his Blues career but the defender will still be vital for La Roja as he faces teammate Havertz in Group E.
Which Chelsea players missed out?
Some of Potter's key players will not be appearing at the World Cup even despite the amount of talent that will be on show in Qatar.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell were both expected to be part of England's squad before they were ruled out through injury.
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Similar circumstances saw the likes of Kepa, N'Golo Kante and Wesley Fofana all miss joining the Spain and France squads respectively.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Jorginho will also have a month off after their countries, Gabon and Italy, failed to qualify.
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