NZ Herald

These kind of pre-season games invariably involve young unknowns, but not usually this many, this early for this long. Tottenham’s first substitutions came in the 62nd minute, when the five most recognisable names on the bench were introduced: Richarlison, Ben Davies, Conor Gallagher, Mathys Tel and $200 million signing Mateus Fernandes.

The other five substitutes in Tottenham’s 2-0 win over A-League champions Auckland FC were all 20 or younger and yet to make their senior competitive debuts for the club.

Not part of the matchday squad were 10 players expected to feature prominently this season, including $230m club record signing Sandro Tonali and the four who featured at the World Cup.

What was the point of bringing the latter quartet to New Zealand? Given they were knocked out of the World Cup just three weeks before Tottenham left London, they would have been better off meeting their teammates in Australia after three or four days’ additional rest while saving themselves six hours of flying.

The handful of Kiwi Spurs fans in Sydney this week would surely have appreciated a heads-up that the club would potentially be playing in Auckland before they spent thousands booking trips across the Tasman.

But they at least saw a notably stronger side for Tottenham’s penalty shootout win over Sydney FC on Wednesday night, and it’s a safe bet that the starting 11 will be stronger again for Saturday’s match against Chelsea at the Olympic Stadium.

Did the people who signed away central and local government funding for Tottenham’s visit realise the Auckland game would be so bereft of stars?

If another Premier League club puts its hand out, a visit in an odd-numbered year would be advisable so it doesn’t clash with the World Cup or Euros, and/or it should be a post-season rather than pre-season trip.

Tottenham last appeared in Australia two years ago in a post-season match against Newcastle United in front of a crowd of 72,000 at the MCG. Of their teams that played the last round of the 2023-24 Premier League season, Spurs started nine and Newcastle eight in Melbourne just 40 hours later.

Regular starters are among those to have departed Auckland FC during the off-season.

More than 40,000 were in attendance for the fixture, a new high for men's football here.

The Tottenham Hotspur were welcomed at Auckland’s Park Hyatt Hotel this afternoon. Video / NZ Herald

The 26-year-old footballer is the sixth All White to move clubs in this transfer window.

TAU expected the match between Tottenham and Auckland FC would result in 27,000 visitor nights and a $3 million boost to the regional economy.

“Auckland FC have done wonders for football in the city since the club came into existence two years ago,” Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said.

“Their CEO Nick Becker and his team have created a loyal and passionate fan base from nothing. It’s been fantastic to see so many people regularly turn up to their games at Go Media Stadium.

“Tottenham Hotspur are known as a team that always tries to play attractive football, so hopefully it will be a great game at Eden Park.”

It’s been 12 years since a Premier League team last visited Auckland, when West Ham United lost 2-1 to the Wellington Phoenix at Eden Park.

“We haven’t had a club of this size in New Zealand for over 10 years. Now clubs like Tottenham are seeing what we’re doing over here, the growth of football and our passionate fanbase and wanting to get involved,” Becker said.

“It is going to be fantastic event for Auckland and a great chance for some of our squad to really test themselves against top-class players.

“Whatever happens to Tottenham this season they remain an incredibly high-profile team with a worldwide fans base, and we’re delighted to have them here in Auckland with us.”