The USSR is the most notable omission from this imaginary World Cup. I'm sure everyone is aware of the Dynamo UK-tour, but they also had a tour of Sweden in the late 40s, where they absolutely crushed the opposition, and made the likes of Gren and Nordahl look average. A few years later in Finland they weren't quite as impressive as that, but they would have been considered among Europe's best along with Hungary during this time. The reports from Swedish journalists were key during this era, because they had the distinction of seeing their team crushed by both the USSR and Hungary, and later Brazil. In a report I read, they rated Hungary ahead of the Soviets, but unfortunately they didn't choose between Hungary and Brazil, describing both as "unplayable".

The Torino-based Italy is an overrated side. I know the football romantics like to think of them as potential world champions, who were robbed of a title due to a tragedy. But they were only great at club-level, not internationally. They got crushed by both England and Austria, and in general were an inconsistent side.