Why Tottenham Hotspur is in difficult position with World Cup Qualifiers

Players to miss more than half of Tottenham’s matches?

Math tells us, things are not likely to be in the favor of any player returning from South America to get to play much. This is going to be particularly exacerbated at Tottenham Hotspur.

Argentina plays their third qualifier against Bolivia on Thursday, September 9. Day 0 is the day the players arrive, which at best would be Friday, September 10.

If everything goes perfectly for any player involved, they would first be available to even join the group on Tuesday, September 21. For Tottenham Hotspur that means missing three matches, two in the Premier League, and the first Group Stage game against Rennes in France, before even being eligible to return to the club.

Given the matches where we have seen the most of both Lo Celso and Romero have been in the Conference League, this is especially problematic. Likewise, the Spurs play the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, September 22, which presumably any returning player would miss, having only joined the team for 1 day and likely having lost some fitness in a 10-day quarantine.

At best, in a perfect situation, the players could possibly play against Arsenal on Sunday, September 26 but more than likely we will not see Lo Celso and Romero, and possibly Sanchez again until Thursday, September 30 against Mura. Tottenham then plays on Saturday, October 2 against Aston Villa, which even under poor circumstances you would expect any player having gone to South America to be fully available and fit for.

Then comes the real problem for Tottenham and others

It is at this point, after playing Villa, with any player having gone to a red list country fully acclimated back into the team that the real problem arises. After the October 2 match against Villa, Tottenham does not play again until Sunday, October 17 at Newcastle, as Monday, October 4 marks the start of yet another international break for a round of qualifiers starting this whole process all over again.

Therein lies the ultimate problem is this is set to be a vicious cycle that occurs all season, all the way until next season when teams lose players for a full month. Currently, CONMEBOL, like every other federation has matches in October, November, January, February, and March leading up to the World Cup.

FIFA is not going to stop the pandemic, just like the League cannot stop a player from going to play with Leo Messi. However, FIFA can work with governments and the federations to come up with some kind of solution that will not cost some players at least half of the season.

Does anyone think Harry Kane would turn down England? Why would we ask Gio or Cuti to turn down Argentina? If the games must go on – and it seems like that is the only answer we will get from FIFA – then the governing body needs to do more to keep players eligible for their teams.