Tottenham Players At The World Cup: Match Guide
By Logan Holmes
A match guide to the Tottenham players at the World Cup – Paulinho, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Nacer Chadli, Hugo Lloris, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Nabil Bentaleb.
Over the next month we have an opportunity to follow the fortunes of the seven Tottenham players at the World Cup. As well as the current players, it’s possible to check on some former players as well as watch some potential signings once the competition has reached its conclusion.
Group A:
Paulinho – Brazil
The host nation opens the competition today (Thursday, 12th June) with a game against Croatia who could have a number of former Tottenham players in their team. Luka Modric, Verdran Corluka and goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa who played one Cup game for Spurs. Missing from the Croatia team will be Nico Kranjcar who misses the tournament with injury.
The Southampton defender, Dejan Lovren is in the Croatia squad and as a player who has been linked with Tottenham since the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, it might be worth keeping an eye on Croatia’s games against Cameroon (18th June) and Mexico (23rd June).
Following the game against Croatia, Brazil’s next match is against Mexico on Tuesday, 17th June. Here Paulinho will come up against Giovani dos Santos who now plays for Villarreal.
Brazil’s final match in Group A is against Cameroon on Monday, 23rd June. At left back in the Cameroon team will be Benoit Assou-Ekotto who spent last season on loan at Queen’s Park Rangers.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto – Cameroon
After their first game against Mexico, Cameroon play Croatia on Wednesday, 18th June before completing their group matches against Brazil.
Group E:
Hugo Lloris – France
France are in Group E and play Honduras in their opening game on Sunday, 15th June. Wilson Palacios was a member of the rather robust Honduras team which held England to a scoreless draw in Miami last weekend. France’s next match is on Friday, 20th June against Switzerland who have included the former Tottenham player, Reto Ziegler, in their squad.
France complete their group games with a match against Ecuador on Wednesday, 25th June.
Also in the France squad is Loic Remy who was linked with Spurs in yesterday’s media.
Group H:
Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Nacer Chadli – Belgium
Belgium are in Group H and open their World Cup campaign against Algeria on Tuesday, 17th June when they could face Nabil Bentaleb. Belgium come to Brazil with high expectations and face Russia in their second game on Sunday, 22nd June. Their final game is the following Thursday, 26th June against South Korea.
Watching Belgium also provides an opportunity to assess the performance of Romelu Lukaku who is expected to leave Chelsea this summer and could be a target for Spurs.
Nabil Bentaleb – Algeria
After their first game against Belgium, Algeria play South Korea on Sunday, 22nd June with their final match is against Russia on Thursday, 26th June.
Former Tottenham Players:
Other former Tottenham players who are at the World Cup in Brazil are:
Group B:
Massimo Luongo has been selected in the Australia squad. After just one substitute appearance for Tottenham in 2011, the young midfielder was transferred to Swindon Town last summer.
Group C:
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Didier Zokora is with the experienced Ivory Coast team which includes Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Cheick Tiote, Salomon Kalou and Wilfried Bony.
Group G:
Helder Postiga was signed by Valencia last summer as a replacement for Roberto Soldado but went on loan to Lazio in January. Postiga is in the Portugal squad for the finals.
Clint Dempsey is with the USA managed by Jurgen Klinsmann.
Kevin-Prince Boateng who played for Schalke 04 last season after three years with AC Milan, is with Ghana.
England – Group D:
With injury keeping Kyle Walker and Andros Townsend out of the England squad, there is no Tottenham interest in the England games on:
Saturday, 14th June: Italy
Thursday, 19th June: Uruguay
Tuesday, 24th June: Costa Rica
Out:
Another former player who is missing through injury is Rafael van der Vaart who would have been included in the Netherlands team.