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These teams are hot (or not) as the World Cup approaches

The last FIFA international window before World Cup rosters are finalized closed Tuesday, leaving 32 coaches to consider the personnel and direction of their Russian-bound national teams.

Most played two friendlies between March 19 and 27, a spell in which primary leagues went dark and all players were available to represent their country. While the results were inconsequential, they did offer some insight and answer lingering questions — or, in some cases, raise fresh ones — before provisional rosters are submitted May 14 and final lists three weeks later.

There were clear winners and losers in this final surge of activity.