Tottenham Stars Shine on International Stage Saturday
By Aaron Coe
After a quiet Friday internationally for Tottenham Hotspur, things picked up some Saturday as stars Hugo Lloris, Sergio Reguilón, and Son Heung-Min all played.
Tottenham Hotspur have a few international players on their team some of which are vitally important to countries. None are more important than are Son Heung-Min and Hugo Lloris to South Korea and France – long standing captains of the two nations. While Sergio Reguilón is newer to the Spain set-up his importance grows with each break. All three Spurs stars were in action and played a big part in the results Saturday for their countries.
Spurs Son and South Korea
South Korea had both the least important and arguably most important game today. As an international friendly the results and meaning of the match are little more than a Cap for many players and some points on the FIFA ranking. However, when your opponent is the one who beat you in the Group Stage of the World Cup to keep you from advancing, it takes on different meaning.
Despite a major Covid scare running through the South Korean camp, the game was played, and the South Koreans took an early lead, with Son leading the way. The Tottenham talent got free down on the left wing and was able to send in a nice cross that was finished for a 1-0 South Korea lead only about 20 minutes into the match.
Unfortunately for Son and his countryman they could not fully capitalize on the lead and ended up being under the thumb of the Mexican team for much of the match. Mexico dominated possession 58 to 42 and this translated into peppering some 23 shots at the South Korean net, getting more on target eight, than South Korea had shots total – seven.
The possession and shots ultimately paid off for Mexico and they broke through with a goal around 67 minutes. Then scored two more within five minutes to turn a 1 goal deficit into a 2-goal lead in less than 10 minutes. South Korea scored again late, but it was too late for this one and Mexico again came out on top over Sonny and his side this time 3-2. Son and South Korea will remain in Austria for another Friendly with Qatar on Tuesday.
Reguilón, Spain and Ramos Pain
Sergio Reguilón got his first senior-level Spanish cap just a few months ago on September 6, 2020 against Ukraine. Since then Spain has had seven total matches, Reguilón has played in six of them. While it is to early to call the young left back a fixture in the Spanish set-up, he is certainly working to nail down the left back position.
Reguilón’s assist against Ukraine was more of a moment, as Spain won 4-0. However, his assist Saturday against Switzerland was a bit more meaningful to his country. Spain was down 0-1, but up a man when Reguilón got free down the left-hand side. As Spurs fans have come quickly to appreciate Sergio got the ball into the box and Gerard Moreno finished to tie the game for Spain.
While the story of the evening was Sergio Ramos missing two penalties, Reguilón was the difference maker on the scoresheet. The Spur back actually set up three of Spain’s 20 shots with his crosses including the tying goal in the 1-1 draw. Tottenham and Spain both are looking forward to what comes next for the young back.
Captain for Tottenham, Captain for France
While Sergio Reguilón has only earned six senior level caps Hugo Lloris is on the other end of the spectrum with 117 caps for France and serving as the national team captain since 2011. Lloris and France were facing Cristiano Ronaldo and the current Nations League title holders Portugal to see who would top group A3, with both teams sitting on 10 points coming in.
Portugal was on the front foot from the off launching 18 shots toward France’s goal and Hugo Lloris. The French stopper made his first save on Ronaldo at six minutes and sixth and final save on Joao Moutinho at 75 minutes. That Moutinho save was a thing of beauty as Joao struck a rocket heading for the upper corner, but Lloris parried the ball away on full stretch with his left arm.
Lloris was indiscriminate in who he was saving shots against on the night, turning back Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, and Bruno Fernandes in addition to Moutinho and Ronaldo. N’golo Kante scored a scrapy goal for France near the hour mark and Lloris and the defense held on to do the rest. France now advances to the four country ‘finals’ of the Nations League.