‘Beyond disappointed’: Gary Neville criticise Tottenham to let go Euro 2024 brilliant star exit
Tottenham Hotspur fans often reflect on the near successes of the Mauricio Pochettino era.
Despite coming close to winning major trophies, such as the Premier League title in 2016 and the Champions League in 2019, silverware remained elusive.
During this period, Tottenham had a squad brimming with high-level talent, many of whom have since moved on, leaving Son Heung-min as one of the few remaining stars aiming to finally secure that long-desired trophy.
Among the talented players of that era was Jan Vertonghen, who left Tottenham in 2020. Vertonghen, like his former teammates, will undoubtedly wonder why Spurs never managed to clinch a major title during his tenure.
This sense of missed opportunity extends to his international career with Belgium, where the so-called “golden generation” has also failed to secure a significant tournament win.
Belgium’s recent exit from Euro 2024 was particularly painful, marked by a last-minute own goal from Vertonghen that sealed their 1-0 defeat to France.
This unfortunate event made Vertonghen, at 37 years and 68 days, the oldest player to score an own goal in the European Championships, according to OptaJohan.
Former Manchester United star Gary Neville didn’t hold back in his critique of Vertonghen’s defending during that critical moment.
Speaking on ITV Sport, Neville emphasized how the experienced defender should have acted more decisively to prevent the goal. Neville pointed out that Vertonghen allowed Kolo Muani too much space to turn and shoot, leading to the costly deflection.
“I think he will be disappointed, I mean beyond disappointed, not just the fact that it gets credited to him as an own goal,” said Neville. He elaborated on how Belgium’s defense, which had been solid for most of the game, faltered at a crucial moment due to Vertonghen’s hesitation.
“As the ball goes back, Vertonghen has to shift. Kolo Muani doesn’t do anything amazing. He’s a little scruffy on the turn. We have seen a lot better turns than this, but as it gets played back, Vertonghen has to shift up and then it makes it really difficult because he is close enough. Once you are one or two yards off, that isn’t unlucky, it falls into the category of poor defending and he knows because that’s an experienced player.”
Despite this recent criticism, it’s important to acknowledge Vertonghen’s significant contributions during his time at Tottenham. He was a crucial part of the team, forming a formidable defensive partnership with fellow Belgian Toby Alderweireld.
This duo was instrumental in Spurs’ strong defensive performances, and their departure left a noticeable gap in the squad.
It has taken Tottenham some time to rebuild their defense since Vertonghen and Alderweireld left. However, the current partnership of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero under the management of Ange Postecoglou shows great promise.
This new duo has the potential to reach and perhaps even surpass the heights achieved by the Belgian pair, providing a solid foundation for Spurs’ ambitions.
Jan Vertonghen’s career at Tottenham and with the Belgian national team is a tale of near misses and undeniable talent. While his recent own goal in Euro 2024 might overshadow his legacy in the short term, his contributions to Tottenham and his defensive prowess over the years should not be forgotten.
As Spurs continue to build and aim for future successes, the impact of players like Vertonghen will remain a significant part of the club’s history.
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