Preview of Tottenham Trip to Dinamo Zagreb in Europa League

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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his team’s second2 goal during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Dinamo Zagreb at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 11, 2021, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Players to Watch Tottenham and Dinamo

There are going to be a number of players on both teams to keep an eye on as the match progresses. For Tottenham things of course begin and end with Harry Kane, which Kane is moving well and getting the ball the team tends to click. We know based on Mourinho’s presser Kane is likely to play and the point of him playing is to win the tie. Hopefully, Kane can do his thing and make it happen.

Eric Dier is another player to watch as it is likely that Dier again gets the call in the Europa League. Dier needs to reclaim his confidence if not his role in the team’s back-line. Dier usually does okay, but the overall effort for the Englishman has frankly not been up to par as he routinely clears out-of-bounds balls that he should be controlling and playing. How well Eric Dier can or cannot control the ball and help the Spurs keep possession is going to impact the match.

Bruno Petkovic played long and hard in the first match-up working to try and create pressure on the Spurs backline. More impressive was how quickly Zagreb was able to turn their few possessions into opportunities with some quick longer balls. Expect to see Petkovic running the channels and working to say on the back shoulder of the Spurs deepest defender.

Petkovic was unable to convert on a solid opportunity in the first match-up, given his success in the competition thus far this season, Tottenham should not count on more misses. If Petkovic is able to get a lot of chances it is likely because Mislav Orsic is having a good game.

Sunday the Lilywhites really, really struggled to defend against Arsenal’s overloaded left flank. Do not think for a second Dinamo did not see that and will not try to exploit that same area themselves. Mislav Orsic is likely to be the player out on the left attacking whomever the Spurs have played right back. Orsic averages almost 2 key passes a match, so he is capable. Tottenham needs to improve known areas of weakness and hopefully, that is the case Thursday or the Croatians might have a big game.

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