Quiet start for Tottenham players on international stage

The international break is officially underway and two days of matches have been played, however, not all of the Tottenham players selected have taken part. In fact, almost as many Spurs have been watching as have been playing in this first set of international matches.

Tottenham Players Playing Internationally

The headline game on Wednesday was Belgium versus Wales in the World Cup qualifying a match featuring three Tottenham Hotspur players. It would have been four Spurs players had Ben Davies not gone home injured, as it was Gareth Bale and Joe Rodon started for Wales, while Toby Alderweireld was in the backline for Belgium.

Both Alderweireld and Rodon played the full 90 minutes, while Bale played 84 minutes and picked up an early assist. That assist gave Wales a temporary lead, which was erased before the half-hour, as Belgium – with Jan Vertonghen on the left opposite Alderweireld in a back three – won 3-1.

Elsewhere Matt Doherty went 90 minutes for Republic of Ireland playing the right side of a midfield five in a 3-2 loss to Serbia. Likewise, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg went a full 90 minutes for Denmark in a 0-2 win over Israel.  Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris, captained France in a 1-1 draw against Ukraine, as Lloris gave up an own goal in the draw.

Tottenham also had some youth on display as Maksim Paskotsi – a U-18 Academy Player for Tottenham started and went 90 minutes as a center-half for Estonia. A rash of injuries in the Estonia squad earned Paskotsi his call-up. Unfortunately, it was a rough outing as Estonia fell 2-6.

Likewise, Oliver Skipp and the England U-21 team got off to a tough start in U-21 EURO Qualifying, losing to Switzerland 0-1. Skipp went the full 90 minutes and picked up a late card in injury time. Ryan Sessegnon was a late substitute for the Three Lions youth.

Tottenham Players Watching the Games

While many probably thought Eric Dier would be watching England open their campaign, not many probably had Harry Kane on the bench next to him. Given the overall competition across the three matches for England, if there was a game for Kane to sit, it was this one.

Steven Bergwijn and Moussa Sissoko were likewise un-used substitutes for the Netherlands and France respectively. Similarly, Japhet Tanganga was an unused substitute in the England U-21 loss.

Two Spurs players had different seats

Then there were Tanguy Ndombele and Troy Parrott. Neither Ndombele for France or Parrott for the Republic of Ireland made the matchday squad. Although both were selected for the teams neither made the bench for their respective country.

Looking ahead Friday is a quiet day with only Serge Aurier in action for Ivory Coast in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger. Saturday and Sunday will see a whole slate of matches before no-one plays on Monday.

The good news is Tottenham has made it through the first set of matches and there are no new injuries to report, let’s hope that continues.