|
· NEW! - See the current injury list for all Premiership Teams!
Spurs record in Europe:-
European Cup
P W D L F - A
8 4 1 3 21 - 13
(Semi-Finalists 1962)
European Cup Winners Cup
P W D L F - A
33 20 5 8 65 - 34
(Winners 1963)
UEFA Cup
P W D L F - A
82 50 18 14 178-66
(Winners 1972, 1984
Finalists 1974)
Total
P W D L F - A
123 74 24 25 264-113
NEC's results in Europe this season:-
UEFA Cup Rd 1 (1)
NEC 1-0 Dinamo Bucuresti
UEFA Cup Rd 1 (2)
Dinamo Bucuresti 0-0 NEC
Round Two (Game One)
Dinamo Zagreb 3-2 NEC
UEFA CUP Round Two Group D Table:-
P W D L F-A PTS
1. Udinese 2 2 0 0 4-1 6
2. Spurs 2 1 0 1 4-2 3
3. Dinamo Zagreb 2 1 0 1 3-6 3
4. NEC 1 0 0 1 2-3 0
5. Spartak Moscow 1 0 0 1 1-2 0
This week's other game:-
Dinamo Zagreb v Spartak Moscow
N.E.C is actually short for Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie. Eendracht was established in November 1900, and merged with Nijmegen in 1903 to form the club in its present name and form. The NEC stadium has a capacity of just 12,500, and is packed for most games, as it will be this Thursday, including just 600 Spurs fans.
The club has never won a major tournament and has only played in European football 4 times. They finished eighth in the league last season, but then went on to win their last 9 games of the season, which all formed part of the Dutch play-off system, through which NEC qualified for this year's UEFA Cup.
As can be seen above, NEC were the conquerors of Dinamo Bucuresti, who we met and beat two years ago at White Hart Lane. NEC were 2-1 up in Zagreb in their only game of this round to date, but succumbed to two late goals to be beaten by the odd goal in five.
Having beaten Zagreb 4-0 with a superb performance in their last game, Spurs will be feeling confident about this match, despite the anticipated absence of Ledley King; the enforced absence of Corluka and Pavlyuchenko; and the injuries to Alan Hutton and Luka Modric. Michael Dawson will surely start beside Jonathan Woodgate, and the right back slot will be between Chris Gunter and perhaps Didier Zokora, who is having to sit out more games since the arrival of Harry Redknapp.
The Spurs midfield may not change radically, with on-form Aaron Lennon surely getting another outing on the right. On the other hand, he may get that free role behind Darren Bent, as playing our only two eligible strikers may be a bit risky.
NEC currently sit eighth in their league, and have never found consistency this term. They have won 6 of their 15 games in all competitions, but only two of their last seven. They have former Fulham player Collins John in their squad, but he has yet to make his debut. Rachid Bouaouzan is on loan from Wigan, where he had not played a league game. Bouaouzan has completed 90 minutes just once in his brief career at NEC, and most of his appearances have been as substitute.
Dutch striker Jhonny Van Beukering was NEC's top scorer last season, and started this season well with a couple of goals, but presumably has been out injured, having returned to action last Saturday. 22 year old midfielder Lorenzo Davids is related to Edgar (cousin or nephew, depending upon your source), and has played in all NEC's league games this season.
There are no household names in NEC's predominantly Dutch squad, who of course should not be under-estimated in front of their own crowd, which includes a vociferous section known as "The Loyal Dogs".
Whilst anything other than victory would make qualification unlikely for the home side, a Spurs win ought to ensure progress to the "Round of 32". Rangers are the only team not to have qualified with 6 points in the first 4 years of this format.
Ever the optimist, I'll go for a Spurs win, but I don't think it will be too convincing!
Top of page | Index to 2008-09 Match Reports
|
