The last time we
faced Tottenham was three years ago in the Audi Cup, when they beat us
2-0. Before that, it was in the Champions League, with the infamous Joe Jordan
vs. Gennaro Gattuso matchup. Hopefully no one at Tottenham makes xenophobic
remarks tonight, especially since it’s just a friendly, because we don’t need
to tempt fate. Besides, it has been over a year now since Gattuso faced
discipline for physical violence against someone else, it would be great to
keep that streak going. I for one would like to see Gattuso’s team avenge the
Jordan incident on the pitch with a win against a team whose mascot and
namesake represent an ugly facet of the brutally barbaric and inhumane sport of
cockfighting. I think it’s finally time for Gattuso’s Revenge.
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| Don't mess with him... er... I mean his boys |
I can only sound that confident because the Spurs, aka Harry
Kane and friends, are missing the Premier League’s top scorer and World Cup
Golden Boot winner for this match due to his participation in the World Cup.
Also because there are a very few £5 notes in circulation with his image on
them, he is probably trying to find one so he can retire. In addition to their
ridiculous 30 goal-scoring last season player, they are missing others from the
World Cup, and now have injuries to worry about, too. Here are the players
Pochettino brought with him to the U.S. (Players crossed out have been ruled
out or sent home with injuries)
Luke Amos, Serge Aurier, Brandon Austin, Cameron
Carter-Vickers, Ben Davies, Christian Eriksen, TJ Eyoma, Juan Foyth, Paulo
Gazzaniga, Anthony Georgiou, Erik Lamela, Fernando Llorente, George Marsh,
Lucas Moura, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Davinson
Sanchez, Moussa Sissoko, Oliver Skipp, Heung-min Son, Kaziah Sterling,
Michel Vorm, Kyle Walker-Peters, Victor Wanyama, and Alfie Whiteman
Tottenham instigated a smackdown on Roma, 4-1 in their
opening ICC match, but then lost to Barcelona on penalties after fighting their
way back from 2-0 down. Will they end their tournament with a win, or will
Gattuso get his revenge?
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| We'll face a couple of ex-Serie A players in Lamela (aka the Apple) and Llorente |
Gattuso has a couple of injuries of his own in Bertolacci
and Bonaventura. Other than that, he will have the rest of his U.S. squad
available, including newly returned Rodriguez, Silva, and Zapata.
Goalkeepers: Donnarumma A.,
Donnarumma G., Reina
Defenders: Abate, Antonelli, Bellodi, Bonucci, Calabria,
Musacchio, Rodriguez, Zapata
Midfielders: Bertolacci, Bonaventura, Brescianini, Calhanoglu, Halilovic, Kessie,
Locatelli, Mauri, Torrasi
Forwards: Borini, Cutrone, Kalinic, André Silva, Suso, Tsadjout
Gattuso did mention he regretted not giving some youngsters some
time last week in Los Angeles, so perhaps he will give them a chance tonight.
Certainly fans have been begging to see what Halilovic can do, so it would be
nice to see him get some minutes.
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| Hoping they show the U.S. more love tonight |
In these friendlies, anything can happen. Like 26
penalty kicks, for example. But after playing so well last week and
still coming up on the short side of those penalties, Milan could really use a
straight up win. With all of the drama around the ownership and management and
the rumors involving everyone from Gattuso on down, a nice, well-deserved win
would do this team some serious amounts of good right about now. Plus, after
listening to Joe Jordan’s xenophobic remarks all those years ago as a player,
winning against his old side would certainly exact Gattuso’s revenge. Without
any kind or disciplinary action.
This post inspired by the music of
Richard Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries”
Tottenham vs. AC Milan
Tuesday, July 31st
• 7:35pm CDT (Wednesday, August 1st • 2:35am CEST)
This match will
NOT be shown LIVE on television in the U.S.
(can be streamed
in Spanish on ESPN3)