The final game of this strange mini-season for Tottenham Hotspur was every bit as chaotic as you would hope, with a 4-3 home win over the buccaneering Leeds United.
Now that this all done with, most of the Spurs team will be setting their sights squarely on Qatar (see below).
Tottenham's form of bad starts continued, with Crysencio Summerville controlling well and holding off Eric Dier to slot home, 10 minutes in.
This wasn't the usual first half capitulation. Leeds had the clearer chances, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and the post coming to the rescue, but Spurs played attractive football at times.
Harry Kane found an equaliser after a Perisic corner. It looked for all the world like it would be called back for a foul on the keeper by Richarlison and Clement Lenglet, but for once the goalie did not get the benefit of the doubt.
The first period was won by Leeds, Rodrigo finding the net after the home team failed to get a corner fully clear.
The second half started just as scrappy, and in the 50th minute minute Kulusevski wriggled free in the box. A Kane shot was blocked but Ben Davies was there to shoot under/through/off the keeper from the edge of the box.
Leeds again went ahead through Rodrigo, who accelerated past Davinson Sanchez and shot past Lloris's outstretched glove from a tight angle.
Spurs responded through a deflected Bentancur strike, and it was the Uruguayan who finally put Spurs ahead after Dejan Kulusevski pulled it back.
What fight Leeds had left went when Tyler Adams was sent off for a second yellow, bringing Yves Bissouma down after he accelerated past him.
On the plane from Saturday's team:
Hugo Lloris
The keeper has always had an error in him, and hasn't always looked the most assured this season. Nonetheless, he's the French captain, and with the quality of that squad around him, his lifting the trophy once again cannot be ruled out.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
The action man in the middle has been one of Tottenham's players of the season, and he should be a lynchpin of the Denmark team, who are in a group with Lloris's France, as well as Australia and Tunisia.
Harry Kane
Harry ("slow starter", "a bit fatigued", "sluggish") Kane is having his best start to the season, but no one's noticed because Spurs's performances have been unconvincing and Erling Haaland is freakishly good.
He has 12 Premier League goals so far this season and, with Haaland absent, will be targeting that Golden Boot.
Eric Dier
Dier had a very solid start to the season but has made mistakes in recent weeks. Against Leeds he could have done more to stop Summerville getting his shot away for the opening goal, and he didn't impose himself sufficiently to prevent Rodrigo's first.
But he's experienced and can still put in a dominating performance for England.
Ben Davies
In England's group are Iran, USA and Wales, for whom the underrated goal machine (okay, two in the Premier League this season) Davies will feature.
A highglight here was an early overlap and interchange to get to the byline. He opted to pull back for Emerson, who shanked it. A ball into the six-yard box for Kane might have been more difficult, but might have come with shorter odds of a goal.
Richarlison
Perhaps the most excited to be back in the starting line-up was Richarlison, who is a mainstay for Brazil but feared for his tournament after his recent injury.
But he's back, pestering defenders and fighting for chances from scraps.
Whether he is a striker who can help Brazil to cup glory, we'll find out, starting in a group with Cameroon, Switzerland and Serbia.
Ivan Perisic
Perisic won't be the only old head in the Croatia team with Spurs heritage. The competition could be Luka Modric's swansong.
But Perisic has won fans over this season, with his attitude, work ethic and unrivalled delivery from set pieces.
He will face Morocco, Canada and Belgium in the group stage.
Rodrigo Bentancur
Even his interceptions are graceful. On 55 minutes Bentancur leapt like a gazelle on a ball intended for Brenden Aaronson in the Spurs box. And that was before he popped up with two goals to win Spurs the game.
The Uruguayan flourishes when Yves Bissouma comes in as a deep lying midfielder, as he did in the second half here. It gives Bentancur the opportunity to get forward and try to pick a pass - or to steal into the box. It will be interesting to see how his national team utilises him in a group with Portugal, Ghana and South Korea.
Also on the plane:
Heung-Min Son
Leading that South Korea team will be the talisman, Som Heung-Min, despite surgery on a fractured eye socket.
Go on Sonny!
Cristian Romero
Also injured but travelling is, for me, Tottenham’s best defender, “Cuti” Romero. Argentina face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.
Joe Rodon
The defender has struggled to establish his place at Spurs, and is currently on loan with Rennes, but he will join Ben Davies in the Wales squad.
Pape Matar Sarr
He has yet to appear for Spurs, so it will be interesting to see whether Sarr can have an impact with Senegal, in a group with Qatar, Ecuador and the Netherlands.
Not on the plane...
Dejan Kulusevski
Plenty of great players won't be going to the World Cup, but it is a real shame Kulusevski will not get his moment this year, with Sweden failing to qualify.
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