Date: 6th December 2022 at 11:42am
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Just eight teams will remain in the World Cup by Wednesday morning, with the final two matches of the first knockout round taking place on Tuesday. 

Spain face Morocco on Tuesday afternoon, before Portugal are pitted against Switzerland in the final match of the round.

The tournament in Qatar has already provided several shocks, with both Belgium and Germany being eliminated at the group stage, but there could yet be more surprises.

Germany were dumped out of the tournament at the group stage for the second successive tournament, despite having won the 2014 edition.

Belgium, meanwhile, appear to have failed to take advantage of their ‘golden generation’, with several of their current stars unlikely to be involved at the next World Cup in 2026.

The likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld will all be at last 35-years-old by the next tournament in North America, although The Red Devils are also blessed with a number of younger stars.

One of those is Youri Tielemans, who played in all three group games at the World Cup.

According to new reports, though, the Leicester City man may be on the move in the near future.

Tielemans struggled to have any real impact for Belgium at the World Cup

As reported by Spanish outlet Marca, La Liga giants Barcelona suspect that the midfielder has already agreed a deal to join a new club.

The report suggests that Barca are interested in signing Tielemans as a replacement for veteran midfielder Sergio Busquets, who is expected to depart the Nou Camp at the end of the current season.

Despite their interest, the 25-year-old has apparently shown little interest in a move to Catalunya, which has prompted suspicions from the Spanish side that he has already agreed a move elsewhere.

Tielemans’ contract with The Foxes is set to expire next summer, which would allow him to sign a pre-contract agreement with any foreign club from January onwards.

The midfielder has scored 27 goals and provided 25 assists in 175 games for Leicester since joining from Monaco in 2019.

The highlight of his time so far the club was his goal in the 2021 FA Cup final against Chelsea, which saw Leicester lift the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

Despite Leicester’s desire to keep hold of one of their biggest stars, the player has shown no signs of wanting to stay put and is therefore expected to leave the club.

The player, who is valued at around £35 million, has been linked with several other clubs across Europe, including Arsenal, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will remain in the Premier League.

 
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