Spurs’ best England XI of the Premier League era
England are in action tonight, you might’ve heard. To celebrate, let’s have a look at Spurs’ best England eleven from the Premier League era.
Goalkeeper: Paul Robinson
A solid shot-stopper for Spurs in over 175 Premier League games. Despite winning the 2008 Carling Cup for the North London club, Robinson was often pilloried for his laughably bad positioning. For England, he made the squad for the 2004 Euros and was number one for the 2006 World Cup. Will forever be remembered for air-kicking Gary Neville’s backpass in a 2-0 Euro 2008 qualifier in Zagreb.
Right-back: Kyle Walker
A blistering fullback for Spurs in his 8 years at the club. Despite an unerring penchant for a brain guff, the former-Sheffield United defender emerged as one of the division’s finest performers. Was sold to Man City in 2017 where he’s done…quite well. Is currently in the process of Bringing Football Home for England in this summer’s European Championships.
Centre-back: Ledley King
Oh what could’ve been. Training sessions spent in Daniel Levy’s private swimming pool and a lifetime of chronic knee injuries, didn’t stop Ledley King being Tottenham’s greatest English defender of the modern era. For the national team, he got game time at both Euro 2004 and World Cup 2010.
Centre-back: Sol Campbell
Alex Ferguson called Sol Campbell the best young centre-back in Europe while at Spurs. It’s no exaggeration to say that, like best online casinos au, the youth academy graduate was a cut above the rest during the North London club’s miserable 90s slump. After years of exceptional service for Spurs, Campbell ended up signing for…actually, let’s not go there. Internationally, Campbell won 73 caps for England, played in 6 major tournaments, and scored one goal.
Left-back: Danny Rose
Despite a late-career nosedive, which has seen him end up at Watford in what should be close to his peak years, Danny Rose was among the league’s best left-backs during the Pochettino era. Perhaps his best moment, however, came on his debut, playing as a midfielder. THAT volley against Arsenal. For England, Rose won 29 caps and made both the 2016 Euro squad and the 2018 World Cup squad.
Right-wing: Aaron Lennon
Diminutive, tricky, rapid. No, not José Dominguez. On his day, Aaron Lennon was unplayable. The jet-heeled winger spent a decade at White Hart Lane, terrorizing opposition fullbacks with his nimble feet and scorching pace. Although he never scored for England, he did make 21 appearances, including two eye-catching displays at the 2006 World Cup as a teenager.
Holding-midfielder: Michael Carrick
A delightfully cultured deep-lying playmaker; perhaps the finest passer of his generation. Carrick spent just two seasons in North London, before making the switch, as is many a Spurs player’s want, to Manchester United in 2006—for just a hair under £19m. Was criminally underused by various England managers, making just one solitary tournament appearance at World Cup 2006 in Germany. What a waste.
Attacking-midfielder: Dele Alli
The career trajectory has gone somewhat askew for Dele Alli in the last three years. After a blistering maiden season at Spurs, and two sublime campaigns after that, injury and a worrying loss of form has seen the hugely-talented midfielder lose his starting place for both club and country. Wonderful goal against France aside, and a World Cup quarter-final header against Sweden, Alli has not hit the heights once expected of him. Was part of the team that lost to Iceland at Euro 2016. Eesh.
Left-wing: Darren Anderton
Okay, we’re cheating somewhat here: Anderton was very much a right-winger. But I’ll be damned if Nick Barmby is getting in ahead of Spurs’ top Premier League appearance maker. A career dogged by injuries, Anderton was a fabulously talented midfielder who was one of the few bright spots in Spurs’ miserable mid-90s to mid-00s era. A mainstay in both Terry Venables and Glenn Hoddle’s England set-up, Anderton played a pivotal role in Euro ‘96 and World Cup ‘98—scoring against Columbia in the group stages of the France tournament.
Forward: Teddy Sheringham
Another one that got away to United. Regularly Spurs’ top scorer during the 1990s, Teddy Sheringham was a supremely intelligent, cultured deep-lying forward. His partnership with Jurgen Klinsmann during the 1994/95 season was a thing of joy. Nearly as fun as a visit to meilleurs jeux casino. Sheringham enjoyed a good career at international level, too—the highlight of which was the two-goal, one assist performance against the Netherlands at Euro ‘96. Ah, memories.
Striker: Harry Kane
Who else? What more can you say about the Walthamstow hitman? Three Premier League golden boots, 166 league goals in 242 games for Spurs, the North London club’s best ever striker. Second only, perhaps, to the great Jimmy Greaves. Kane is the complete forward, as his place at the top of both the scoring and assist charts last season illustrates. For England, he’s well on his way to beating Rooney’s goal-scoring record and Gary Lineker’s record at international tournaments. World class.
