Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen has remarked on the quality of Spurs’ squad, evidenced by the club having nine players taking part in the semi-finals of the World Cup. The neighbors Arsenal had only Danny Welbeck, who didn’t even play.
Nine Spurs players reached the semi-finals with England, Belgium and France, and Lilywhite ‘keeper Hugo Lloris ultimately lifted the trophy as France captain when Les Bleus beat Croatia 4-2 in the final.
And Eriksen, whose Denmark side reached the Round of 16 only to lose to eventual finalists Croatia on penalties, thinks the World Cup served as a great advertisement for the quality of players at Tottenham.
“If you look at the number of players we had at the World Cup and showing who they are as players, it’s been a very successful thing,” he said to ESPN ahead of Tuesday’s International Champions Cup match against AC Milan at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
“We had nine players in the semis, which means of course that our team out here is different to what it would usually be. But the World Cup is definitely a good place to show that when you’re at Tottenham you can be a top player.”
Eriksen is Spurs’ primary free-kick taker, though Kieran Trippier, Harry Kane and Eric Dier also shoulder some of the responsibility.
When asked if Trippier – who impressed throughout the tournament with his set-pieces as he scored from a free-kick in the semi-final – would be welcome to take free-kicks for Spurs, Eriksen replied: “Of course he is welcome [to take some],” the 26-year-old said. “If he thinks he can score then he can take some. But I do think it’ll be a close call. I do think I’ll claim it first, but he can definitely have a go.”
Tottenham beat AC Milan 1-0 in their last match of the International Champions Cup on Wednesday morning courtesy of a goal from French winger Georges-Kevin N’Koudou
The 23-year-old finished a driving run by firing a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 47th minute, for his second goal of pre-season.
Spurs only lost to Barcelona on penalties on the US tour
It was Spurs’ second win in three games, having beaten Roma and lost to Barcelona on penalties on the tour.
They face Girona in a friendly on Saturday, before their Premier League opener at Newcastle on 11 August.
Spurs started six academy players in Minneapolis – Luke Amos, TJ Eyoma, Anthony Georgiou, George Marsh, Oliver Skipp and Kyle Walker-Peters.
Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min both came on for the final half-hour.
While Spurs had more possession in front of 31,000 at US Bank Stadium, their Serie A opponents had three times as many shots. Patrick Cutrone went closest for the Rossoneri, with Michel Vorm palming away the Italian’s point-blank header. Jose Mauri sliced a shot wide in injury time.
SON APOLOGIZES
Son Heung-Min admits he has mixed feelings about leaving his Tottenham teammates to take part in the Asian Games at the start of the season.
The 26-year-old is one of three overage players who has been named in South Korea’s Under-23 squad for the tournament, which runs from Aug. 14 to Sept. 1.
Spurs had no obligation to release Son. But if he wins gold with his country — who won the last edition in 2014 — he will be exempted from his impending 21-month long military service.
Tottenham, who have just given Son a new five-year contract, have agreed that he can travel to Indonesia after their opening Premier League match at Newcastle on Aug. 11.
“I feel sorry because Tottenham is my team and I feel very sorry to be leaving my teammates,” said Son. “I am playing for my country and that is also important, but honestly I feel very sorry about that. That is what I feel.”