The 2026 World Cup certainly hasn't been without controversy, but the football has been pretty special.
We're now entering the tournament's final act. The wheat has been separated from the chaff, and we're left with eight nations, all within touching distance of history.
Spurs' World Cup history is rather meek, with just two players getting their hands on football's most glorious prize while representing the Lilywhites. Including our summer additions, 13 current squad members were called up for the tournament, and just four remain as we prepare for the quarter-finals.
Here are the four Spurs players who still have a shot at World Cup glory this summer.
1. Cristian Romero (Argentina)
Cristian Romero is one of the two Tottenham World Cup winners.
The centre-back has struggled to put a foot wrong for Argentina throughout his international career, and it's going to take something pretty special for the holders to succumb this summer.
They've flirted with disaster, but continue to find ways to prevail. Cabo Verde and Egypt have run them mightily close at the start of the knockouts, and a functional Switzerland are bound to challenge Lionel Messi and company on Saturday evening.
Romero entered the tournament off the back of a significant knee injury and picked up a knock in Argentina's second game against Austria. He missed the dead rubber against Jordan, but returned for the knockouts.
It was his foray into the Egypt box that ignited Argentina's stunning recovery in the last-16, with Spurs supporters pointing at their screens like Leonardo DiCaprio in that Once Upon A Time In Hollywood scene when they saw Romero cosplay as a centre-forward. We've seen that before.
With his future likely away from north London post-World Cup, Spurs will hope Romero's work in North America convinces a buyer to emerge.
2. Djed Spence (England)
The treatment of Djed Spence this summer has been rather peculiar. Sure, the versatile full-back didn't play all that much for a team that finished 17th in the Premier League, but that doesn't render him completely invaluable and undeserving of a spot in Thomas Tuchel's squad.
Many had already made up their minds about Spence before he kicked a ball for his country at the World Cup, presuming him not to be good enough.
That bias reared its ugly head against a perfectly fine performance against Ghana, and after England conceded early in the round of 32.
Those who bemoaned Spence's mumbling of the national anthem and general nonchalant demeanour were the same folk labelling him a hero after England's stellar triumph at the Estadio Azteca. Spence was used off the bench by Tuchel against Mexico as the Three Lions sought to see home their advantage.
El Tri struggled to create against England's parked bus, and one of their few openings was stymied by a superb Spence recovery. He did Spurs proud that night and shut a few up in the process.
3. Pedro Porro (Spain)
Not a single Spanish supporter would've believed that Pedro Porro would be the country's first-choice right-back at the 2026 World Cup had you told them in the wake of his disastrous 45 minutes against Scotland three years ago.
That performance arrived at the start of his Tottenham career, where he's since evolved into a mainstay. His time in north London hasn't been without tumult, but his World Cup has further shown just how good he can be with talent around him.
Porro has beaten out Marcos Llorente for the starting role, having been introduced to the starting lineup after Spain were surprisingly shut out by Cabo Verde.
The right-back offers technical security and an excellent passing range, thus adding an extra creative layer to Spain's possession play. Porro scored in the last-32 win over Austria and held his own against Portugal.
Jérémy Doku, should he start for Belgium on Friday, will be a stern test of Porro's defensive one-on-one ability.
4. Marcos Senesi (Argentina)
Marcos Senesi signed for Spurs a week before the World Cup got underway. At that point, the centre-back was a harsh omission from Lionel Scaloni's squad.
The following day, he received the call. That's what joining Spurs can do.
Senesi was called up as Leonardo Balerdi's replacement and has since made his World Cup bow, playing the full 90 minutes in Argentina's 3-1 win over Jordan.
The left-footed defender is unlikely to feature again for his country at this tournament, but at least Scaloni offered him a chance on the grandest stage.
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