Gordon Brunt

12h ago

Artyom Korotayev / TASS / Getty

The finish line is within sight after more than two years of World Cup qualifiers.

Tuesday marked one of the most crucial matchdays, with South, North, and Central American hopefuls qualifying for the World Cup in dramatic fashion. But it was the elimination of World Cup regulars Chile and the United States that will steal the headlines Wednesday.

The day also featured the conclusion of the UEFA group stage, which saw European champions Portugal book an automatic place in the World Cup, while nations such as Switzerland, Greece, and Sweden became the latest to qualify for next month’s two-legged play-offs.

Australia edged past Syria to progress to the intercontinental World Cup qualifying play-off next month when the Socceroos clash with Honduras.

With all that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the countries – except hosts Russia – who have qualified for the 2018 World Cup:

UEFA (13 places)

Who’s in: Belgium, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Serbia

Who still has a chance: Italy, Denmark, Croatia, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden

Notable absentees: Netherlands, Czech Republic, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovakia, Ukraine, Turkey

CONMEBOL (4.5 places)

Who’s in: Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia

Who still has a chance: Peru

Notable absentees: Chile, Paraguay

CONCACAF (3.5 places)

Who’s in: Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama

Who still has a chance: Honduras

Notable absentees: United States

CAF (5 places)

Who’s in: Egypt, Nigeria,

Who still has a chance: Tunisia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, South Africa

Notable absentees: Cameroon, Ghana

AFC (4.5 places)

Who’s in: Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea

Who still has a chance: Australia

OCEANIA (0.5 places)

Who’s in: None

Who still has a chance: New Zealand

Two weeks after notching his 100th goal for Arsenal, Olivier Giroud is in line for another accolade after being named one of the three finalists for the 2017 FIFA Puskas Award.

FIFA announced the shortlisted trio with a statement on its website Monday. Giroud is joined by Venezuelan international striker Deyna Castellanos and Baroka FC shot-stopper Oscarine Masuluke for the annual award that celebrates the best goal in club and international football.

Giroud, Castellanos and Masuluke were initially part of a list of ten nominees, including Kevin-Prince Boateng (Las Palmas), Alejandro Camargo (Universidad de Concepcion), Moussa Dembele (Celtic), Aviles Hurtado (Tijuana), Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) and Jordi Mboula (Barcelona).

The Premier League provided many great goals last season, including Matic’s strike from distance and Andy Carroll’s scissor kick. But Giroud’s bar-down scorpion kick versus Crystal Palace on Jan. 1, 2017 stands out as the best.

The French international will face stiff competition from Castellanos, 18, whose audacious goal from the halfway line against Cameroon in the Under-17 Women’s World Cup came seconds after the opponent bagged a stoppage-time equaliser.

If Castellanos’ effort is noteworthy, both for its boldness and context, Masuluke’s has become part of footballing lore for the uncommon nature of his strike. The Baroka ‘keeper fired home an obscene stoppage-time bicycle kick versus South African Premier League giant Orlando Pirates to snatch a point for his side. Bonus points for the celebratory dance.

The winner, and thus Mohd Faiz Subri’s successor, will be named at The Best FIFA Football Awards in London on Oct. 23. The award is determined by an online vote that can be found here.

Gianluca Nesci

1h ago

Antonio Villalba / Real Madrid / Getty

The race to dethrone Cristiano Ronaldo is officially on.

The nominees for the 2017 Ballon d’Or are being released, with award organiser France Football revealing the 30-man shortlist in five-player installments throughout the day.

The first batch of superstars was highlighted by one of the few men with a legitimate chance of snatching the throne from Ronaldo: Paris Saint-Germain focal point Neymar.

The likes of Robert Lewandowski, David De Gea, Harry Kane, and Kevin De Bruyne have also been unveiled as nominees for the coveted golden trophy.

Real Madrid’s Ronaldo, who remains the favourite to capture the prize for a second consecutive year – and record-equalling fifth time overall – was a lock for the honour after finishing the 2016-17 campaign on a tear. His sluggish start to the new season, though, has given renewed hope to some of his competitors. Chief among them is Lionel Messi – the only player to ever win the award five times, Messi is off to a blistering start in 2017-18.

The two men, who have combined to win world football’s highest individual award for the past nine years, are all but assured to be named as finalists later in the day.

Here are the 15 nominees who have been revealed thus far:

Neymar (PSG), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Marcelo (Real Madrid), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), David De Gea (Manchester United), Edin Dzeko (Roma).

Anthony Lopopolo

1h ago

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

World Cup winner and playmaker extraordinaire Andrea Pirlo is ready to hang up his boots.

The 38-year-old said he plans to retire at the end of the Major League Soccer season, closing the curtain on a decorated career spanning two decades.

“You realise yourself that the time has come. Each day, you have physical problems and you can’t train as you would like because there’s always some niggle,” the former Inter, AC Milan, and Juventus midfielder told La Gazzetta dello Sport, courtesy of ESPN FC.

“At my age, it’s fine to say enough is enough. You don’t have to carry on until you are 50. I’ll do something else.”

Pirlo said he’ll return to Italy in December following two-and-a-half underwhelming seasons with New York City FC. He wouldn’t specify what he’ll do in retirement, although there’s a theory he’ll join Antonio Conte’s coaching staff at Chelsea.

He received much fanfare upon his arrival in the Big Apple, but slowly lost his role in Patrick Vieira’s starting XI. His contract with NYCFC expires Dec. 31, allowing him to leave without any issue.

During his heydey in Europe, the Flero native established himself as one of the most gifted midfielders and free-kick takers of his generation. He whipped in a joint-Serie A record 28 goals from dead-ball situations with Inter, Reggina, Brescia, Milan, and Juventus.

He struggled at first to find his true role, starting in a more advanced position behind the striker. The lightbulb went off when Carlo Ancelotti turned Pirlo into a deep-lying playmaker at the turn of the century with the Rossoneri. Playing in front of the defence allowed Pirlo – more of a visionary than an athletic specimen – to spot long and short passes.

He won the 2006 World Cup with Italy as part of a three-man midfield and claimed the Champions League title a year later with Milan, easing the heartbreak from Istanbul.

Pirlo admitted he came close to joining Chelsea and Barcelona, going so far as to meet with Pep Guardiola in his office.

In 2011, after a decade with Milan, an out-of-form Pirlo was practically pushed out the door. He joined Juventus on a free transfer – to date one of the shrewdest pieces of business in football history – and rediscovered himself.

Helping the Bianconeri become a juggernaut in Serie A, Pirlo won four league titles, one Coppa Italia, and two Supercoppe Italiane.

He remained a part of the Azzurri until 2015, just missing out on last year’s European Championship. His 116 appearances for his country rank fourth.

There were far fewer milestones to celebrate in the United States. Pirlo looked like a shell of himself in MLS, where his sauntering style of play didn’t work. He’s been an unused substitute on 13 occasions this season alone.