FRIENDLY FIXTURE
SUNDAY 30TH JULY, 2006
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (1) INTER MILAN 1 (1)
Spurs scorer:-
Tainio, 37, 80
Inter scorer:-
Martins, 44
Referee: - Mike Dean
Attendance: - 36,200 (estimated figure, but the match was a sell-out)
Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-1-2):- Cerny (sub Fulop, 46); Routledge, Dawson, Davenport, Assou-Ekotto; Tainio, Huddlestone (sub Ghaly, 62), Davids; Keane (Capt.) (sub Murphy, 82), Berbatov, Defoe (sub Ziegler, 72)
(Armband was given to Davids when Keane was substituted)
Subs not used: - Ifil, Gardner, Barnard
No Bookings
Inter (3-1-4-1-1):- Toldo; Cordoba, Marino (sub Solari, 46), Samuel; Dacourt; Maicon, Pizarro, Zanetti (Capt.), Cesar (sub Choutos, 82); Stankovic; Martins
Subs unused: - Carini, Slavkovski, Bonucci, Fautario, Belajd, Andreolli.
No Bookings
Billed rightly as a prestigious friendly, and played in front of an eager sell-out crowd, this match between Spurs and Inter Milan lacked big guns on both sides. The World Cup players were missing for both teams (Robinson, Lee, Zokora and Lennon for Spurs, and Figo, Materazzi and Adriano amongst others for Inter), and Spurs also had to make do without the departing Carrick, and the injured Ledley King, Paul Stalteri, Andy Reid and Jermaine Jenas.
Robbie Keane had the honour of captaining the side against one of his former teams, who featured a former Leeds team-mate – Olivier Dacourt. Dacourt played the holding role in front of a back three, and moved from Roma this summer, to the leading Italian elite side with an untarnished record, following the match-fixing scandal that affected both Juventus and AC Milan – the only teams to have finished above Inter in Serie A last season.(Lazio and Fiorentina being the other Italian sides involved - Roma were not involved)
All Spurs’ eyes were focussed upon the new boys on show – Dimitar Berbatov and Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Neither disappointed in my view, and indeed, they both impressed me. Berbatov is speedy, tall enough to put himself about a bit in the air, and has good movement on and off the ball, with excellent close control in the area, when under pressure. Ekotto, showed some steel (even in a friendly), and also displayed a cool temperament in his own area.
With all the absentees, Martin Jol clearly felt free to experiment, and not for the first time in the pre-season, he played Wayne Routledge as an attacking right back. It’s not Wayne’s fault, but he was often left trailing in the wake of Brazilian Cesar on the left wing. Then in the second half, when Tainio covered at right back, and Routledge was allowed to advance, he too often lost the ball when pressurised, or failed with his crossing. That’s not to say he was not at all effective, as he played a part in a few of the good moves that Spurs produced, especially in the first half.
Another interesting sub-plot was to see what potential was available to replace Carrick, whose £18.6 million deal is being finalised as I write (Monday). Tom Huddlestone started the game in the holding role, and looked good defensively, making one or two sharp passes, but sadly the majority of his balls went astray. In front of him in a diamond style midfield, Davids and Tainio worked left and right respectively. Robbie Keane was “in the hole”, and Defoe operated either side of Berbatov.
Inter had the first threat on goal, as Radek Cerny had to be alert to Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins’ advance. Martins is just 21, and is just one of a number of names offered as potential fourth striker for Spurs. He has scored 20 goals in his last 34 games for Inter over the last two seasons, and scored two for Nigeria against Senegal in this year’s African Nations’ Cup. Whether he is a requirement, only Martin Jol and his team know. Although he scored, (a poacher’s goal) I didn’t see enough to convince me of his suitability. Ekotto had to show his first piece of cool in the box, after Cesar left Routledge trailing, and sent over a deep testing cross.
Tainio (ultimately to be the star for Spurs) showed a good touch at an angle on the right side of the area, testing goalkeeper Toldo with a swiftly taken shot. Then Berbatov was onto Ekotto’s ball through the middle and into the penalty area, where he went down, failing to impress referee Mike Dean. Spurs won a corner though, where Routledge laid off the ball to Keane, whose cross was headed just wide by Huddlestone.
Huddlestone started a good move for Spurs after 19 minutes; Keane and Berbatov combined, before the Bulgarian’s angled effort was saved. Robbie then sent a powerful cross/shot into the area, evading everyone. Cerny had to save Martin’s header in his left corner, after Cesar again beat the make-shift right back, and then Dawson was making a vital defensive header following a corner. Berbatov gave Defoe a good headed lay-off and Jermain’s effort from outside the box nearly deceived the keeper who saved the ball which had bounced in front of him.
Although they deserved a lead, the goal when it came was a surprise, as Tainio’s shot was deflected into his own goal by Marino. The Premiership’s goal-scorer’s panel would probably make this an own-goal, but the defender will be happy to allow Tainio the credit. It looked like Spurs would hold the lead at the interval, but Cerny could only parry a shot into the path of Martins, who gratefully accepted the tap-in.
Fulop replaced Cerny at the break, and Marino was replaced by Solari. Inter are presumably at an earlier stage than Spurs in their pre-season preparations, but their squad was somewhat thin on the ground, with only two substitutes used. Defoe tested the keeper after 50 minutes after good close work from Robbie Keane, collecting Tainio’s low cross from the right. Tainio won a free kick, much to the distain of the Italians, who had been subjected to stiff physical challenges by the Finn before he won Mike Dean’s reward! Keane took the kick and Davenport headed wide, taking a blow in the ribs in the process.
Defoe was replaced by Reto Ziegler, allowing Keane to move forward. With ten minutes to go, Tainio scored a great goal. Picking the ball up just inside his own half, he went on a diagonal run towards the left side of the box, before picking his spot with a beautiful curling left foot shot to the far corner. In the closing stages Ghaly (who had replaced Huddlestone) picked out Ziegler, who had a chance at close range, but fired wide. As seen in the Reserves late last season, Ghaly likes a tackle, but also has a good range of passes at his disposal. He too will be vying for the Carrick vacancy, but I suspect the more mature Jenas and Murphy will be above both Ghaly and Huddlestone in the pecking order. Then, of course there is also Didier Zokora to fit in!
This in no way represents what will be a first choice team for Martin Jol. We must all look forward to Aaron Lennon’s return. I feel that Routledge will be at best a fringe player this season.
Spurs played in their “interesting” chocolate and gold third strip, which will also be the nominated away kit for UEFA ties this season. Plenty of fans have already availed themselves of the kit (which was worn by Spurs in the 19th Century for a spell), but I confess it’s not for me, as it lacks the Lilywhite and Blue that I associate with a proper Spurs shirt!
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