On this day: Spurs 3-1 Inter Milan
By Tom Vinall
On this day back in 2010, Tottenham Hotspur had one of their famous European nights, as they beat defending champions Inter Milan 3-1 in the Champions League.
Two weeks prior, we had seen Gareth Bale have the game that announced himself on the world stage, as he scored a hat-trick in the San Siro, despite Spurs having ten men, to nearly single handedly rescue a point.
For this game at home, Harry Redknapp went with a line up of; Cudicini; Hutton, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale; van der Vaart; Crouch.
After just 18 minutes, an incredible reverse through ball from Modric played van de Vaart through on goal, and the Dutchman kept his composure to fire the ball past Luca Castellazzi into the back of the Inter net.
Seven minutes later, we saw what was to come - as Bale absolutely rinsed Maicon down the outisde, before hanging up a ball towards the back post towards Crouch, who volleyed the ball wide of the post, in a chance he knew he should have done better with.
After 61 minutes, however, the big man would redeem himself. Bale once again torched Maicon down the wing, before putting in a low, drilled cross towards Crouch, who bundled the ball into the gaping goal, despite pressure from an Inter defender. White Hart Lane was shaking.
Not long later, the same duo combined again to put the ball in the back of the net, but the ball had gone over the byline when Bale squared it - so the goal was disallowed.
With ten minutes later, Samuel Eto'o cut inside from the left to curl a shot into the bottom far corner, to half the deficit and give Rafael Benitez's side a lifeline in the game.
It would not last very long, however. With four minutes of normal time remaining, Bale simply knocked the ball down the outside before galloping after it, picking up the loose ball with easy, and firing in a low cross that subsitute Pavluychenko just simply could not miss, making it three goals and three points for Redknapp's side.
From the Spurs team that day, and in fact the match day squad, Luka Modric is the only player that has not hung up his boots. Usually when there is a stat like that, the active player is for a player like Scott Carson - a third choice goalkeeper - but Modric is still starting frequently for Real Madrid at 39 years of age.
What a night, what a side. Let's hope Champions League football is back at Spurs as soon as possible.