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Group A - Tottenham stand every chance
Having been paired with defending champions Inter Milan, Eredivisie winners FC Twente and German big guns Werder Bremen, it's indisputable that Tottenham find themselves in one of the toughest Champions League groups, however there's a reason why they are just [1.83] to qualify.
The absence of any obvious cannon fodder, and the presence of Inter, who having reached the last 16 in each of the last six seasons are effectively guaranteed one of the two knockout round berths, makes things difficult, but Tottenham are easily capable of going through with the Nerazzurri.
FC Twente ([7.2]) are, like Spurs, group stage debutants. The last Dutch team to find themselves in such a position were AZ Alkmaar last season, who were also surprise champions who had since lost the man that made it all possible (Louis van Gaal). They wound up bottom with only four points.
Werder Bremen ([2.04]) have more Champions League experience than Twente and the Lilywhites, though it's not all positive. Their last three campaigns all ended in first round elimination, with Olympiacos and Panathinaikos among the clubs to have progressed at their expense.
The Bundesliga side lost star man Mesut Ozil this summer and also almost managed a reverse Spurs in the play-offs, albeit against tougher opponents in Sampdoria. Thomas Schaaf's men squandered a 3-0 aggregate lead to trail 4-3, only to strike in the last minute then win the tie in extra time.
Inter are [1.15] favourites to qualify and [1.8] to win Group A, yet there is reason for Spurs fans to believe they could really cause a surprise and top it at [4.5] - the Italian giants have been made to settle for second in each of the last two years.
Will Harry Redknapp guide them to the knockout rounds? Have your say below...
Published: 8 Sep 2010
1 Comments
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AntiOnan (September 8, 2010 4:26 AM) said:
Perhaps our best hope lies in Benitez's ego. He has inherited a winning team at In ter but he will tamper with it & interfere with Mourinho's ideas as has been shown by thir recent results. So longmay this continue.
Twente are an unknown quantity & with their loss of Mclaren should not be hard in theory although in fact we never find anything easy.
Werder Bremen's arrogance makes me hope that we really give it to them although they are not to be taken lightly.
I saw us with 9 to 12 point which should be enough for 2nd. But much will depend upon Harry's ability to adapt to Europena football as even Nichiolson found away matches hard there & it wa sa while before we could be certain of any away wins. In addition, these teams will all play 4-5-1 away & defend it depth and we have show a total inability this season & the last to be able to break them down when this occurs.