All the goals: Spurs eventually beat Sydney FC

A measured take on the performance against weak opposition: Tel’s free-kick was excellent, but friendlies against minnows still don’t tell us much.

A less gushing reaction to yesterday’s performance, which, again, looking at social media, many are still struggling to accept these games for what they are: friendlies against nobody-type sides.

I noted several changes of tune on X, one being this gem of dissatisfaction:

“…problem is we're stuck with Richarlison”

This is why these days I don’t get bent out of shape either way with friendlies; one is unlikely to learn very much.

Mathys Tel fans were cooing, and it absolutely was a great free kick …but it was against minnow-sized opponents. Please DON’T tell me we can’t choose who we face; I’m not 12 years old.

Rather tell me how Tel might similarly humiliate some of the Premier League’s tougher opponents. I suspect he will struggle.

Spurs controlled much of the game (roughly 58% possession, 18 shots to Sydney’s 7, and more touches in the opposition box) but created limited clear-cut chances beyond Tel’s goal and a Conor Gallagher shot that hit the post.

De Zerbi made numerous changes, including half-time substitutions of Sandro Tonali (for Lucas Bergvall) and others, and introduced new signing Andy Robertson for his debut later in the second half. Several academy players also featured.

Overall, this was a mixed display for Tottenham: dominant in possession and moments of quality (especially Tel), yet we struggled to kill the game against a resilient A-League side and needed penalties to secure the win.

Spurs next face Chelsea in Sydney.