INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP
SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST, 2019
(3.06pm – at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1) INTERNAZIONALE 1(1)
(Inter won penalty shoot-out 4-3)

Spurs scorer:-
Lucas Moura, 3

Inter scorer:-
Sensi, 36

Attendance:- 58,905

Referee:- Andre Marriner
Assistants:- Scott Ledger & Darren Cann
Fourth official:- Graham Scott

Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-1-2):- Lloris (Capt.) (sub Gazzaniga, 63); Walker-Peters (sub Marsh, 79), Sanchez (sub Tanganga, 79), Vertonghen (sub Alderweireld. 46) , Rose (sub Georgiou, 79); Sissoko (sub Eriksen, 46), Winks (sub Skipp, 63), Ndombele (sub White, 79); Lamela (sub Parrott, 79); Lucas Moura (sub Nkoudou, 79); Kane (sub Son, 63)
(Armband to Alderweireld)

Subs not used:- Whiteman, Austin (GKs)

No bookings

Inter (3-5-2):- Handanovic (Capt.); D’Ambrosio, De Vrij (sub Ranocchia, 84) Skriniar (sub Pirola, 84); Candreva (sub Agoume, 84), Gagliardini (sub Barella, 46), Brozovic (sub Joao Maria, 84), Sensi (sub Valero, 83), Dalbert (sub Dimarco, 74); Esposito (sub Politano, 46), Perisic (sub Puscas, 74)

Booked:- Candreva (foul on Kane), Politano (foul on Rose)

Spurs did some good business today!

Spurs did some good business today in this last pre-season game, but sadly, in the eyes of many Spurs fans, apart from the signing of Tanguy Ndombele early on in the transfer window, none of that has been in the shape of other players who will influence the Spurs team this season. 4 full days in the transfer window remain. The good business done today was in attracting a crowd of 58,905 to a friendly game, most of whom I suspect had yet to visit the new stadium and many of whom were families and children which is of course good for the future of the club and its fanbase. The programme was priced at £5 for reasons I have yet to discover, and one hopes this is not a sign of things to come when the season proper starts next week. I also noted that the Beavertown beers had increased in price by 50p per pint.

Those new fans saw little to attract them in terms of football to be honest, with the best of the game probably seen in the first half when both goals (in ordinary play) were scored. On the down side we learnt before the game that Juan Foyth has an ankle injury and Dele has a hamstring problem I understand that Dele is not likely to be available next week either, and we already knew that Foyth will be suspended for our first two games.

Spurs started in a 4-3-3 with Erik Lamela perhaps at the head of a midfield diamond behind Harry Kane and Lucas Moira. Erik looked sharp today in my view too, and scored the assist for Lucas Moura’s goal. Spurs had kicked off and took the lead only a little way into the third minute of the game when Erik raced forward in the middle and fed the ball to Lucas who finished well with his right foot in front of the North Stand. Good skill was shown down the right flank by Kyle Walker-Peters before he passed to Lucas Moura, whose inside pass failed. Walker-Peters has already indicated via social media how much he is looking forward to next week, so it looks as if he might be holding the right back position for the moment.

Inter had a chance after 12 minutes when Perisic crossed from the right and Dalbert’s header was saved by Hugo Lloris. Four minutes later Perisic missed with an attempt from 25 yards. Inter are now managed by former Chelsea man Antonio Conte who will face another former Chelsea boss in the Italian League this season (Maurizio Sarri). Conte likes his three at the back formation and the midfield five could be defensive at a stroke.

Harry Kane took a free kick from just outside the area which passed well over the far post. After an Inter throw on the left Brozovic hit a shot which beat Lloris but rebounded back into play off his left post. It came as no surprise when Inter equalised in the 36th minute. Spurs were committed almost as far as the half way line when Sensi latched onto a pass which left the defence stranded and fired past Lloris.

Ndombele showed excellent skill in tight situations just outside the Inter area, but Spurs could find no end product. It looked as if Lucas Moura might have been fouled but referee Andre Marriner showed no interest, and indeed let a lot go throughout the game. Before the interval, Moussa Sissoko had a good effort deflected which enabled Handanovic to save.

Both sides made two changes at the interval. In Spurs’ case Toby Alderweireld replaced Jan Vertonghen, with Sanchez moving left of Toby. Eriksen took over from Sissoko. A poor defensive ball was picked up by Lucas Moura who passed to Lamela, but Erik’s shot was blocked. At the other end, Toby Alderweireld blocked Perisic’s shot.

There was a raft of changes on both sides, and the game lost momentum. Gazzaniga saved from Barella’s right footed shot, after a Lucas Moura pass had failed to reach its target and Inter countered. A poor Crossfield ball by Inter fell to Son, who raced forward, but his left foot shot was saved. Spurs appealed for a handball in the box to no avail, with Georges-Kevin Nkoudou having to settle for a corner.

Once again we were faced with penalties to decide the game. These were taken in front of the north Stand and Spurs went first. Eriksen took our first one, and whilst it was a better attempt than his last against Bayern Munich, Handanovic saved to his right. Inter substitute Puscas (what a good name!) had his attempt well saved by Gazzaniga. Son planted a left foot kick confidently to the right of the keeper and Ranocchia also scored to the right of Gazzaniga.

It was 1-1 in the shoot-out and now Nkoudou took a kick for Spurs, sending the keeper the wrong way. Dimarco did the same to make it 2-2. Next up for Spurs was Toby Alderweireld with another confident kick, equalised by Politano for 3-3.

Finally for Spurs, Oliver Skipp stepped up and tried the kick he had confidently scored against Bayern, but Handanovic anticipated correctly and save. Joao Mario made it 4-3 with a decisive right foot shot.

This was a low-key game in a subdued atmosphere. Even those in the South lower stand might have been sitting! I hope for a better game- and result – when the real thing comes next Saturday tea-time!

PS – I do not know why the appointed kick-off time was 3.06pm. Perhaps it was to accommodate the TV audience.

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