Soccer

Heavy rain fell in Frankfurt last night as two determined teams with highly charged players faced off in a Europa League quarter-final second leg after a 1-1 draw in London. Despite the challenging conditions and the pressure from passionate home fans, the Spurs players fought valiantly and demonstrated that they can play together like a cohesive team. It's worth noting that Tottenham wasn't significantly better, failing to create more clear-cut chances and often resorting to a defensive style of play. Nonetheless, they succeeded and will now face the Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final on May 1! Bodo/Glimt advanced after pulling off an upset against Lazio in Rome, winning in a penalty shootout. The first pivotal moment in the match came when Van de Ven tackled Ekitike inside the box, preventing a potential scoring opportunity for the hosts after Eintracht goalkeeper had just kicked the ball on our half. One our disinterested player failed to intervene, allowing the fast attacker to storm toward goal. It would be goal most likely, but fortunately, Mickey Van de Ven was there and he caught up with him, made a well-timed tackle, and left Ekitike on the ground, holding his head and appealing for a non-existent penalty. I loved that tackle; it reminded me how valuable Van de Ven is to the team! Mickey Van de Ven's Crucial Tackle Against Ekitike When M. Götze was substituted for F. Chaïbi in the 17th minute, I thought it would be a significant blow for Eintracht, but the Algerian who came on, Chaïbi, caused us a lot of trouble. He looked like a valuable player, potentially maybe even better than our current attacking options. Soon after Tel tried to score outside the box. It was powerful shot on target, but was saved by Eintracht goalkeeper. If ball went little more right and up it would be goal! Another critical moment occurred when man of the match Romero sent a high ball into the Eintracht box. Maddison managed to get it first, but was subsequently clattered by the Eintracht goalkeeper, who missed the ball and crashed into him with great force, leaving Maddison on the ground for five minutes while medical staff attended to him. Shockingly, the referee did not initially point to the spot, despite Romero's protests and pressure on him. Thankfully, VAR intervened, and after reviewing the incident, the referee awarded a penalty. Dom Solanke took responsibility and, despite his attempt being rather weak straight down the middle, the goalkeeper had already dived to one side, resulting in a goal! Maddison had to leave the pitch shortly afterward due to injury, and Kulusevski replaced him; James looked quite dizzy on his way out. Kristensen went hard on my nerves with his bad behaviour since he tried to pick up the Spurs player he had fouled and then complaining vehemently for a corner when it obviously wasn't one. It’s funny how karma works; his behavior and nervousness seemed to lead to several missed opportunities. As the game progressed, Tottenham's bench began substituting attackers like Tel and Johnson for midfielders and defenders like Sarr and Danso, creating a defensive wall that the Germans failed to penetrate. While a defensive strategy can be effective, it’s essential to have fast players ready to counterattack. It seemed like Tottenham's players were only focused on clearing the ball from the box and not how to make counter attack and score a goal. Spurs had a few moments in the second half, including a couple of dangerous headers and attempts from within the box, but the ball just wouldn’t go in. Tel needs to work on his shooting, as his powerful attempts still lack precision. Romero's header went just a little wide of goal! Cristian Romero's Near Miss Vicario's Impressive Saves and Looking Ahead Near the end Eintracht went all out in attack and made couple of chances. Vicario made a fantastic save when he deflected a close-range attempt from Eintracht player. When players become anxious and arrogant, luck often turns against them. Kristensen missed chance after chance! One more thing you can't hit Romero in the head hard without facing consequences. It was clear his revenge was imminent. Ange Postecoglou's Controversial Remarks Ange Postecoglou, the team’s manager, stirred some controversy with his pre-match comments, stating, "A club like this doesn't reach the semi-finals very often, so we'll take this opportunity." It was shocking to hear him say "a club like this," which could imply that Tottenham is too small for a manager of his caliber and he lost incredible 17 Premier League games including those against clubs on the bottom of the table! After the game, he remarked, "Unfortunately, you need to stick with me a bit longer." Given the challenges we've faced, a few more defeats in the Premier League won't be insurmountable. There's no point in sacking him now; let him manage against Bodo, and if he successfully leads the team to the final let's see what he can do there. Maybe he'll keep his promise and "win something in his second season". Like I said I am not sure who was in charge for this match Ange or Mason ? Whoever was keep it that way. If it was Ange he showed he can be ultra defensive not only ultra attacking. Passion on the Bench After the Final Whistle Passion on the Bench After the Final Whistle Our next opponent isn’t Lazio, as many—including myself—expected. Bodo/Glimt from Norway knocked them out on penalties in aggregate. Spurs will have a chance in the semi-final, but only if they approach the match seriously. If they underestimate their opponents and play casually, they risk losing, much like Roma did under Jose Mourinho. That pitch possesses something special; unprepared opponents often falter there. I recall Ajax barely kept heads on shoulders during a recent visit, only because Nino Zugelj missed an open net and another significant opportunity. Nino may no longer be in Bodo, but as the wise often say, no one reaches the semi-finals by accident. When a team gets to this level, it must possess quality! We need to respect them and well prepare for our away match there!