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Five Things to Watch for in Tottenham v Inter

By Ryan Wrenn

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Harry Kane (R) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his teams third goal with Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Harry Kane (R) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his teams third goal with Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – JULY 30: FC Internazionale pose for a photo prior to the International Champions Cup 2016 match between FC Internazionale and Bayern Munich at Bank of America Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Claudio Villa – Inter/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – JULY 30: FC Internazionale pose for a photo prior to the International Champions Cup 2016 match between FC Internazionale and Bayern Munich at Bank of America Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Claudio Villa – Inter/Getty Images) /

An Italian Job

Perhaps it’s only coincidence, but Tottenham’s foreign competition this pre-season has had a decidedly Italian flavor.

They lost 2-1 to Juventus early last week in Melbourne, just days before losing 1-0 to an Atlético Madrid team that utilizes some very Italian-inspired tactics in their organized defense and devastating counter.

Now Tottenham take on Inter. Roberto Mancini’s team is far from the best in Italy even if they did look it for the first half of the 2015/16 season.

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In fairness, however, Inter’s been under an aggressive re-building phase for years now, a process only accelerated this summer with their sale to Chinese investors. Under Mancini’s tutelage they are capable of some of the most spectacular acts of defense in Europe, and in a way that suits Tottenham’s needs nicely.

It’s fair to say that the Premier League’s never been a league that emphasizes defense. It is a much top-heavier league one that endeavors more to outscore opponents than edge out close wins.

That attitude is changing slowly these days. Leicester City and Tottenham proved the value of a firm defensive base, while former Juventus and Italy coach Antonio Conte will be bringing a similar mentality with him to Chelsea. Tottenham will thus learn some important lessons as they try to break down Inter’s midfield and backline, and it should proven an entertaining game as a result

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