Can Hugo Lloris capitalize on French trophy with Tottenham?

For the second time in three years, Tottenham Hotspur captain Hugo Lloris has won a major trophy captaining France to Nations League victory. After the World Cup triumph in 2018, Spurs did not exactly capitalize on Hugo’s international success. Can this time be different for Lloris and Tottenham?

Hugo Lloris was on top of the world. He had just been the captain of the French national team and they had won the World Cup. Sure he had a big gaffe in the final but Les Bleus had won and all was well. Now if Tottenham could capitalize on Lloris’ success the long trophy drought at N17 could be over.

In truth, Spurs came close that season reaching the Champions League final in June 2019, 11-months after Lloris had lifted the World Cup with France. However, it was more the strength of Heung-Min Son and the pluck of Lucas Moura that carried Tottenham in tough times that season, not their captain.

If you simultaneously rewind to 2018 and fast-forward two months after Lloris and France had beaten Croatia 4-2 at Luzhniki Stadium in Russia, you get to September 2018 and everything came crashing down for Lloris.

Spurs skipper was picked up for a drink driving charge that fall and any real goodwill and momentum from the summer success quickly became an afterthought for Lloris. The event did not completely derail the season but it certainly did not help what would be Mauricio Pochettino’s final full campaign with Tottenham.

Things can be different this time for Lloris and Tottenham

The good news is that this time things can be different. Hugo Lloris is clearly in a different space in his life and with his future – with Tottenham or any other club – yet to be determined, we should expect nothing but the best from Hugo, both on and off the field.

Admittedly it is difficult for the goalkeeper to be the main vocalist on the field given their proximity to the action at times. However, having now won a second major trophy as a captain, Lloris should be bringing things back to the team that others want to know and hear and needs to be bold in his leadership of the group.

This particular Spurs team has several younger players who are going through their first rodeo at this level and a seasoned veteran leading by example is what they need. Heung-Min Son is the fans’ inspirational leader, Harry Kane is the face of the club but the captain is Lloris for a reason, which he proved again this past weekend with France.

Tottenham would be wise to find ways to tap into the success Lloris has enjoyed and get that feeling to spread. Likewise, Lloris would be wise to leverage this cache with his squadmates, particularly the younger ones to instill the right attitude and values that will ultimately lead to sustained success.