After an emphatic 6-2 win, Tottenham finish the first part of the Premier League in third place, just a point off the top as the international break signals a two-week break from domestic football.
In truth, Spurs’ international break came at a bad time as Antonio Conte’s side remain undefeated after seven league games; it would have been better to keep the momentum going.
Most of the squad will however join forces with their compatriot and compete on the international stage for the last time before this year’s World Cup, but who exactly do the Spurs big boys face in the next fortnight?
Those representing European teams will take part in the final rounds of UEFA Nations League matches and give the next matches at least a semi-competitive advantage.
Of course, England captain Harry Kane will lead the Three Lions in the clashes against Italy and Germany, but for Spurs fans the most notable addition to Gareth Southgate’s squad is the return of Eric Dier.
After a lengthy absence, Dier is hoping for his 46th cap – the first since a Nations League win against Iceland in November 2020.
After his superb 2021/22 season and a strong start to this season, Dier’s departure from recent squads has Tottenham fans stunned. However, his inclusion in the final squad ahead of the World Cup could suggest the Englishman could travel to Qatar this winter.
Elsewhere, Nations League games will also feature Ben Davies, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ivan Perisic, Matt Doherty and Dejan Kulusevski; Despite being included in the France squad, club captain Hugo Lloris has been forced to resign due to injury.
Given the often experimental nature of the Nations League, Spurs fans will be hoping managers can rotate their players in preparation for the World Cup, as the players mentioned above are all established internationals, which means Tottenham can return rested.
Outside of Europe, the likes of Yves Bissouma, Heung-Min Son, Davidson Sanchez and Richarlison will play in friendlies, giving coaches another chance to set tactics and preferred line-ups for Qatar.
There are certainly some interesting matchups to come in the next week, with highlights such as Perisic v Hojbjerg in Croatia vs Denmark or Diers’ return to the English side when England travel to Italy.
For Spurs fans, we have to hope the international break doesn’t disrupt our record start to the season.
Conte will spend the next two weeks preparing for the North London derby after returning to the Premier League, where hopefully Tottenham can continue their good start to the season.
