Spurs international watch: Bitterly disappointing night for Tottenham duo

On Sunday evening, there was UEFA nations league action for Spurs pair Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie, and their Italy side, as they hosted France. Due to the complicated nature of the tiebreakers, Italy would qualify as group winners here if they won, drew, or lost by one goal. Any greater defeat, and their French counterparts would top the group instead.

For this game, Italy national team manager Luciano Spalletti once again left Udogie amongst the substitutes, but gave Vicario the nod over Gianluigi Donnarumma of Paris Saint Germain.

Frustrating night at the office all round for Spurs players

It would be the nightmare start, as Adrien Rabiot gave the visitors the lead within the first two minutes of the game, and all of sudden the safety buffer of two goals had immediately been wiped out.

Things would get even worse just after the half hour mark, when Lucas Digne’s free-kick rebounded off the woodwork and off of Vicario into the goal, to give France a two goal lead courtesy of an own goal from Vicario.

However, Italy would reply just two minutes later, and went into half time a goal to the good, and in top spot in the group.

That said, twenty minutes into the second half, France would regain their two goal lead, once again propelling themselves into top spot ahead of Italy. That would be the final goal of the game, and Italy would surrender their spot at the top of the group, instead qualifying in second place.

As a result, their two legged quarter final tie will now be against a group winner, rather than runner up. They will be drawn against one of; Spain, Portugal, or Germany. Had they won the group, they would have be drawn against one of; Croatia or Poland, The Netherlands, Denmark or Serbia, or finally - Czechia or Georgia or Albania or Ukraine.  

All round, a very tough night. As for Udogie, he came on for Dimarco after around 83 minutes, meaning his international break has totalled around 34 minutes of action. Whilst frustrating for himself no doubt, Udogie was one of the Spurs players that needed rest the most, and this has been really convenient ahead of a busy schedule, where the club have already lost enough players.

The international break is now over for both Vicario and Udogie, who will return to Hotspur Way in preparation for the game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this coming Saturday.