There will be more twists and turns over the next two days as the World Cup group stage comes to a conclusion. With four of the groups completed and ten teams safely through to the knockout phase, Tottenham so far have six players who will be competing in the final 16.
Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier, Harry Kane, Pape Matar Sarr, Cristian Romero and Richarlison are the players in question, and they could potentially be joined by another three of their Spurs teammates. Ivan Perisic and Croatia's World Cup ambitions will be determined on Thursday afternoon when they take on Belgium at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Currently top of Group F on four points, Croatia will exit the competition if they lose against Belgium and Morocco pick up at least a point against bottom side Canada. Friday afternoon then sees Son Heung-min's South Korea and Rodrigo Bentancur's Uruguay fighting it out to join Portugal in progressing from Group H.
READ MORE: Tottenham's Harry Kane and Son Heung-min nominated for Fans' Footballer of the Year award
Both could in fact crash out of the competition altogether as Ghana sit second and a point against Uruguay would be enough for them unless South Korea beat Portugal and topple the Black Stars on goal difference. Nothing is ever straightforward in the final round of World Cup group games, though, and there's a good chance it will go right down to the wire for the Tottenham trio.
All connected with Tottenham will want their players to go far in the competition but early exits would in fact benefit Antonio Conte ahead of their Premier League return against Brentford on Boxing Day. A handful of the players returned to Hotspur Way on Monday to recommence their training after a mid-season break, with Emerson Royal, Clement Lenglet and Dejan Kulusevski just some of those to return.
The limited numbers have been bolstered by academy players stepping up, although a couple more will soon be back at their Enfield base after Ben Davies and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg both exited the World Cup. The former saw Wales finish bottom of Group B, with the latter unable to help Denmark progress to the latter stages once again after such a good Euro 2020 campaign.
As was the case with the players now back at Hotspur Way, those exiting the World Cup will have a break before returning to training with Conte and the squad. The early return of Davies and Hojbjerg will certainly help the head coach in terms of his plans on the training ground as Spurs' form prior to the break in play highlighted that much more needs to be done if they are to get back to their previous heights.
Swift returns for Perisic, Bentancur and Son would also come as a huge boost to Conte as he would quite clearly like the vast majority of his players to work with over a good period of time before Premier League football returns. The final group games on Thursday and Friday will determine if they are to return to Hotspur Way very soon or remain in Qatar for a bit longer.
READ NEXT:
Cristian Romero's Giovani Lo Celso admission explains Lionel Messi and Argentina World Cup woe
Yves Bissouma can change Antonio Conte's Tottenham first-team plans after early training return
Djed Spence handed unique Antonio Conte Tottenham opportunity ahead of January transfer window
Premier League decision hands Antonio Conte and Tottenham pivotal Arsenal and Man City showdown
Full list of Tottenham players going to Qatar 2022 World Cup as Eric Dier, Rodrigo Bentancur in
