FRIENDLY MATCH
WEDNESDAY 21ST DECEMBER, 2022
(7PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1) NICE 1(0)

Spurs scorer:-
Doherty, 21

Nice scorer:-
Mendy, 47

Attendance:- 9,173

Referee:- Simon Hooper

Teams:-
Spurs (3-4-3):- Forster; Tanganga, Sanchez (Capt.) (sub Dier, 66), Lenglet (sub Davies); Emerson Royal (sub Mundle, 74), Bissouma, Hojbjerg (sub Sarr,46), Doherty; Kulusevski (sub Devine,80), White (sub Son, 74), Gil (sub Lankshear, 89)
(Armband to Dier)

Subs not used:- Austin, Whiteman (GK); Paskotsi, Sayers, Cesay, Sessegnon; John, Santiago

No Bookings

Nice (4-4-2/3-4-3):- Schmeichel; Mendy (sub Beha Beha, 57), Todibo, Dante (Capt.), Bryan (sub Bard, 46); Boudaoui, Thuram, Rosario, Barkley (sub Ilie, 80); Pepe, Laborde (sub Brahimi, 71)

Subs not used:- Boulhendi, Garrido (GK); Viti; Belahayne, Da Cunha

No bookings

Nice and friendly

Thanks to Gary Smith for this picture

This was always going to be a low-key friendly fixture. Proceeds from the moderate ticket prices paid by the restricted attendance of 9,173 were being donated by Spurs to local food banks, which was a worthy gesture indeed. Several World Cup stars are still to return to the club (Romero, Lloris, Perisic and Kane included). Rodrigo Bentancur is both injured and suspended from our Boxing Day game, but Antonio Conte also mentioned “problems” in the squad which presumably referred to players such as Oliver Skipp, Djed Spence and Lucas Moura being absent tonight. Spurs did have Eric Dier, Ben Davies and Son Heung-min on the bench, and they all got some second half minutes.

Nice had former Leicester keeper Kaspar Schmeichel in their starting line-up which also included Ross Barkley and Pepe. The latter is on loan from Arsenal and these two players were prominent in Nice’s first half attacks. Another former Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey was not present, despite the fact that his Wales side did not make the knock-out stages of the World Cup in Qatar. The Nice side did include Joe Bryan at left back, who is on loan from Fulham. Nice have a league game on 29th December, having last played on 11th November. They are ninth in the league table.

Spurs fielded Davinson Sanchez, who captained the side. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg whose Denmark side was also eliminated at the Group stage of the World Cup, played the first half and was replaced by Pape Matar Sarr, who had played less minutes that Hojbjerg, but did come off the bench against England in the Round of 16. The Spurs side otherwise was very similar to those which featured against Motherwell and the behind closed doors warm-up game against Peterborough. Fraser Forster was making his first appearance since our November Carabao Cup exit at Nottingham Forest.

Spurs kicked off and played towards the North Stand which was one of those occupied by fans in the lower tier. They won a first corner after three minutes, which was taken by Bissouma and ended with a skied shot by Bryan Gil. Gil was combining well with Matt Doherty who played at left wing-back. Harvey White was playing a “false nine” role and had some nice touches. Nice had an early chance after Spurs lost possession in midfield. Pepe passed to Barkley who was towards the left of the area. His shot was well saved by Forster near his right post. The Spurs keeper wasn’t seriously tested after that.

Clement Lenglet was advancing regularly, and Spurs won a free kick just outside the box when White was fouled. Kulusevski’s low kick was held by Schmeichel. Kulusevski fed a short ball from a central position to Doherty inside the bx. The Nice defence protected their keeper and cleared before Doherty could hit his shot. Doherty didn’t have to wait long for his goal. He received another Kulusevski pass – again central just outside the box - and finished nicely with a right footed shot.

Pepe soon won a free kick at the other end, but his kick hit the wall. After another foul on Pepe when challenged by Emerson and Tanganga, Barkley took the kick but hit the side netting after the ball rebounded off the Spurs wall. Laborde failed with a good opportunity after a cross from the right.

The Gil-Doherty combination worked well again with Gil running onto a good pass by Doherty, but Schmeichel was equal to his shot. After good approach play from these two a Bissouma shot took a deflection and passed just wide of the far post, winning a corner.

Spurs were caught on the hip at the start of the second half and after a Doherty mistake near the left-hand post, Pepe’s deflected shot was saved by Forster. Captain Dante had a header from the corner blocked, but Mendy followed up and scored with a low shot into Forster’s left corner after passing through a sea of legs.

Spurs best second half chance followed soon after and followed more Gil/Doherty approach play. Doherty provided the final pass which was met by Kulusevski whose low shot was saved by Schmeichel low to his right. Pepe had been recognised by the Spurs fans who booed him and sang “Stand up if you hate Arsenal” (YAWN). Barkley failed take advantage of a good ball into the 6-yard zone by the Arsenal loanee.

Emerson got into the Nice box after a neat pass by Kulusevski, but his cross caused no danger. Another Emerson cross was cleared after a nice, angled pass by Kulusevski who is eager for competitive football after Sweden’s absence from Qatar. Spurs had a snappy move via Bissouma, Gil and finally Doherty, but his poor cross was cleared.

Harvey White got in on the action after a Tanganga advance and an Emerson shot which was saved and ran to White. Harvey’s shot passed just wide across Schmeichel’s goal. Sarr was showing skill in his defensive role and after he passed to Gil, Bryan made an effort to put substitute “Sonny” clear, but Schmeichel was first to the ball. Both Eric Dier and Son had been warmly applauded when entering the field of play.

Pepe’s ball to Rosario was moved inside to Brahimi, but he skied his opportunity. A Sarr shot from 25 yards lacked power and was easily held by the former Leicester keeper who has shopped plenty of goals against Spurs in the past, but lonely one today.

Hopefully, Kane and Perisic will be available on Boxing Day. Bentancur will be suspended, and I have grave doubts regarding World Cup winner Romero being ready for domestic football before New Year’s Day! The real action resumes on Boxing Day!

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