Serge Aurier and Ivory Coast crash out of World Cup 2018

For the first time since 2002, Ivory Coast will not be at the World Cup. Tottenham Hotspur right back Serge Aurier’s international team unceremoniously crashed out of World Cup qualifying yesterday after a 2-0 home defeat to Morocco, who clinched their own berth to next summer’s competition in Russia. They will represent CAF along with Tunisia.

Aurier had a decent opportunity to get a goal on the board for the Elephants, but fired a shot over the bar in the second half. Morocco are a pretty good side, however, and own the distinction of being the only African team to qualify for the World Cup without conceding a single goal.

There aren’t a lot of positive highlights to choose from in this match, but if you’d like a super cut of all (most? some?) of Aurier’s touches from the match accompanied by bad techno music, here you go.

Elsewhere, Christian Eriksen and Denmark set themselves up for a nervy return fixture in UEFA play-in qualification after eking out a scoreless draw at home against Ireland. That means Tuesday’s match at Ireland is essentially a play-in game.

The final rosters haven’t been announced yet for the World Cup, of course, but here’s a list of international teams that have qualified and could feature a Tottenham Hotspur player when they take the pitch this summer.

• Argentina: Erik Lamela
• Colombia: Davinson Sanchez
• South Korea: Son Heung-Min
• Belgium: Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele
• England: Harry Kane, Harry Winks, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose
• France: Hugo Lloris, Moussa Sissoko