Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham team is gearing up for their return to the pitch, with their first pre-season match on the horizon. They will kick off their summer schedule with a friendly against Scottish Premiership side Hearts at Tynecastle in Edinburgh on Wednesday, July 17.
Tottenham’s first team players are set to begin returning to the club’s Hotspur Way training facility for pre-season training from Saturday, July 6. Postecoglou will have a substantial portion of his squad available in the early weeks of training, as only a few players were selected for Euro 2024 and the Copa America.
Among those at the Euros, Guglielmo Vicario, Radu Dragusin, Micky van de Ven, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are representing their countries in Germany. Meanwhile, Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso are on duty for Argentina at the Copa America, with Rodrigo Bentancur playing for Uruguay in the United States.
The group stage of Euro 2024 is nearing its conclusion, with the final two groups wrapping up on Wednesday evening. Vicario and Italy have already secured their spot in the Round of 16 after Italy salvaged a late draw against Croatia on Monday, thanks to Mattia Zaccagni’s 98th-minute strike.
Van de Ven and the Netherlands are also through to the knockout stage ahead of their final match against Austria on Tuesday. Even if they lose to Austria in Berlin, the Oranje will still advance as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament.
Hojbjerg will be hoping to join his Tottenham teammates in the Round of 16 when Denmark plays their final group game against Serbia on Tuesday night. Currently second in Group C, Denmark is in a strong position to advance, but they could face early elimination if they lose to Serbia and Slovenia avoids defeat against England.
If both Denmark and Slovenia lose, the teams will be ranked for third and fourth place by overall goal difference, goals scored, disciplinary points, and finally European qualifier rankings if still level. An early exit for Hojbjerg and Denmark would see the midfielder return to Hotspur Way sooner than expected after his summer break.
A summer departure seems likely for the experienced player due to his lack of regular play under Postecoglou last season. If Denmark exits early, this could expedite a permanent transfer away from Tottenham. Hojbjerg has been linked with Atletico Madrid, and reports from Bild in Germany suggest that Borussia Dortmund is also interested in signing him before the transfer deadline.
Wednesday will see Group E conclude, promising an interesting 90 minutes as Dragusin and Romania aim to secure their spot in the Round of 16. Romania currently leads the standings after two games, but all four teams are tied on three points.
Romania needs only to avoid defeat to Slovakia to finish in the top two of Group E and advance. If they lose and Ukraine avoids defeat against Belgium, Dragusin’s country will be eliminated from the Euros.
Postecoglou will gain a clearer picture over the next two days of when his international stars will return to Hotspur Way for pre-season training following their summer breaks after their respective exits from the Euros. While Postecoglou would like his players to go as far as possible and achieve international success, an early return for Dragusin could be beneficial for both the player and the club.
The talented centre-back, who joined from Genoa in January, has yet to experience a pre-season under Postecoglou. This summer is crucial for the 22-year-old as he looks to secure a more regular role in his first full campaign with Tottenham.
Regarding the three Tottenham stars at the Copa America, the group stage of the competition concludes early next week. Argentina started their campaign with a 2-0 win over Canada and are expected to defeat Chile and Peru in their remaining Group A fixtures. Uruguay, meanwhile, is also well-positioned to advance after securing a 3-1 win over Panama.
Uruguay could secure their advancement to the next stage on Thursday when Bentancur and his team face Bolivia. Both Uruguay and Argentina are expected to progress deep into the tournament in the United States, meaning a potentially late return to Tottenham’s pre-season training for Romero, Lo Celso, and Bentancur.
As the competitions progress, Postecoglou will have a better sense of when his players will return and be able to integrate them into pre-season preparations. This summer will be a pivotal period for the squad as they gear up for the upcoming season under their new manager.
