The 2018 World Cup field is set; now comes the hard work of getting ready

The FC panel pile on the praise for Christian Eriksen’s hat-trick performance that powered Denmark’s thrashing of Ireland.

Two-hundred and sixty-four days elapsed between Brazil doing it and Peru doing it. But when it happens is relatively immaterial. It’s all about getting in, like getting a table in the roped-off VIP area of the nightclub.

Some get there because they’re rich, famous, good looking or have ordered up plenty of bottles in the past. (Some, perhaps, wearing orange or blue, realize that just because they had no trouble getting past the bouncers for a very long time doesn’t mean they get free access forever.)…

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World Cup Absent XI: Buffon, Sanchez, Bale, Pulisic, Aubameyang to miss out

Gab Marcotti is given the floor to share his true feelings on Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Alexis Sanchez and Gareth Bale headline a host of big names who will be absent from next summer’s World Cup after Chile and Wales failed to qualify for the tournament.
Italy were the biggest casualties from the playoffs, with a number of their stars retiring afterwards, while the U.S.’s big hope for the future, Christian Pulisic, will also miss out.
With all 32 teams now confirmed, here is an all-star XI from the players not on the plane to Russia 2018.

This team would compete well, just not at the World Cup.
GK: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus)
The…

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Peru end 36-year wait with unlikely run to first World Cup since 1982

Jefferson Farfan got Peru on the board in the 28th minute with a rocket of a goal.
And so the last spot in the 2018 World Cup has gone to Peru, who qualified for the first time since 1982.
For much of South America’s marathon campaign it appeared that Peru were to miss out once again. But a stroke of luck — they were awarded a 3-0 win despite losing 2-0 to Bolivia because their opponents brought on an ineligible player for the last few minutes — and a strong finish gave them a place in the playoff against New Zealand, and a 2-0 win in Lima on Wednesday was enough to complete…

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