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Spurs record in Europe:-
U.E.F.A Champions League
P W D L F - A
12 5 3 4 25 -19
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/Europa League
P W D L F - A
94 55 22 17 196-75
(Winners 1972, 1984
Finalists 1974)
Total
P W D L F - A
147 84 31 32 307-141
The only place to start...
The only place to start this preview of our Europa League match against Lazio is of course with Paul Gascoigne. It's hard to believe now that it is over 20 years since "Gazza" officially left Spurs for the Italian club for what was then a club record fee. "Gazza" should have joined the Roman club a full year earlier, but due to his terrible knee injury sustained in the 1991 FA Cup Final, the transfer deal, which had been all but settled before that Final was put off until May 1992.
"Gazza" did not make his debut for his new club until the start of the 1992-93 season, and scored his first goal in the Rome derby match, which was a late equaliser, making him something of a cult hero for Lazio. In truth, hindered by more injury problems, including a broken leg, Paul Gascoigne never reached the heights of his Spurs career with Lazio, and might be remembered more for his japes than his football. "Gazza" had great success with Rangers, and of course featured prominently in Terry Venables' England side that missed out in the Euro '96 semi-final against Germany, remembered partly for "Gazza's" close miss at the back post, before the match went to those dreaded penalties.
Spurs fans would see their former hero again, and will always greet him as such, when he returned to the Premier League playing for Everton and Middlesbrough. Paul has been invited to the Lazio home game, but I am not sure whether we will see him tomorrow at White Hart Lane. He would definitely be greeted with rapture.
Lazio will offer formidable opposition. They are in their best form for a number of years, having won all three of their Serie A games, and both legs of their Europa League play-off game.
Formed in 1900, Lazio's colours were inspired by the National colours of Greece, and perhaps there was a link to the the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896. The Eagle on their badge is a reference to the Greek God Zeus, and the club nickname is "The Eagles" or "Young Eagles". They share the Olympic Stadium in Rome with Roma, of course.
Lazio qualified for this competition after finishing fourth last season. They reached Round Two of last season's Europa League when they were beaten by the eventual tournament winners (and current Super Cup holders) Athletico Madrid. Andre Villas-Boas has made it clear that he will treat this year's competition seriously, and the clear aim is for Tottenham to win some silverware this season. As I have written before, maybe that could be on the 50th anniversary of our famous 1963 European Cup-Winners Cup against the same team - Athletico Madrid!
Spurs have never played Lazio in a competitive game, but they did play home and away friendlies in September and October, 1992, following their signing of Gascoigne. Entitled "The Capital Cup" we lost 3-0 in the first match in Rome, then 2-0 in the return match, watched by a disappointing crowd of only 11,000.
In August 2002, we met Lazio in a pre-season friendly, which ended in a 2-2 draw. The Lazio team included former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam, and Hernan Crespo, soon to transfer to Inter, and subsequently to come to Chelsea. Another Argentinean in their side was Claudio Lopez. Dean Richards gave us an early lead with a header from Rebrov's cross, and Jamie Redknapp made it 2-0 after 19 minutes, with a great shot from the edge of the area. Lopez made it 2-1 after 28 minutes, and Crespo levelled the scores after 57 minutes. Belgian hope Jonathen Blondel was a Spurs substitute that day. Blondel is now in his 10th season with Club Brugge. Another substitute was a Brazilian triallist Diego Bortolozzo, who made a few pre-season appearances, and played with the Youth team, before disappearing off the Spurs radar.
Lazio have 34 year old German International Miroslav Klose in their side, and he has already scored three goals this season. Brazilian attacking midfielder Hernanes is in good form too, with four goals already this season, two of which came in Sunday's 3-1 over Chievo. Czech striker Libor Kozak will also be one to watch, and scored two goals in the Europa League play-off game against the Slovenian team Mura.
Another link with Lazio is manager Vladimir Petkovic, who was in charge at Young Boys, when we met them in the 2010-11 Champions League play-off games.
It's hard to predict the team for tomorrow, but as AVB has indicated he will be taking the tournament seriously, I don't think we will see radical changes. After all, Lazio look the toughest of our opponents, and I think we will need a strong team to get the result we need. Hugo Lloris may make a much-awaited debut for the club, and Clint Dempsey will surely get a start.
It should be a good game, and I've got a feeling we may have to settle for a draw.
· Predict your Spurs Odyssey man of the match v Lazio and win a DVD!
· AVB wants to win the Europa League!
