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Plenty of Tottenham Hotspur players will be coming up against each other in the Group Stage of this summer’s World Cup, with the full list of qualifying countries now confirmed.

The expanded format of the World Cup this summer, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is set to feature 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of four.

Lucas Bergvall helped Sweden seal their place in the World Cup via the playoffs, and the midfielder is hoping to be joined in the squad by Dejan Kulusevski, who has set his sights on being fit for the big tournament this summer.

Dejan Kulusevski could face Micky Van de Ven at the World Cup

There will be plenty of all-Tottenham contests in the World Cup, and two groups in particular will be of interest to Spurs fans, with three teams involving Tottenham stars being drawn together.

Group F features the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden, which could involve five Tottenham representatives, with Xavi Simons and Micky van de Ven for the Dutch, Kota Takai for the Japanese, and the previously mentioned pair for Sweden.

Group L is also not short of Tottenham representation, with England, Ghana and Croatia paired together.

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Djed Spence and Dominic Solanke will be hoping to make Thomas Tuchel’s squad, and the Spurs full-back could directly come up against Mohammed Kudus, who is expected to start on the right for Ghana.

Luka Vuskovic has been tipped to make a big impact for Croatia at the World Cup, and he could also come up against Tottenham legend Harry Kane yet again after being involved in multiple battles with the Bayern Munich striker in the Bundesliga this season.

Three more World Cup groups feature Tottenham clashes

Group J features a battle of the Tottenham centre-backs, with Cristian Romero’s Argentina, who are the defending Champions, set to take on Kevin Danso’s Austria.

Two more close friends at Spurs will lock horns in a Group H fixture, with Pedro Porro’s Spain and Rodrigo Bentancur’s Uruguay being the two favourites to qualify to the next round.

Finally, Tottenham teammates may also line up on opposite teams in Group I, with Randal Kolo Mauni’s France and Pape Sarr’s Senegal set to lock horns.

However, it remains to be seen whether either the striker or the midfielder will start for their respective countries.

A supercomputer has now revealed where Tottenham will finish in the Premier League table and how likely they are to get relegated following the latest appointment of Roberto De Zerbi.

In his message to Tottenham Hotspur fans, De Zerbi clearly stated that the focus remains on the final games of the current Premier League season, with Spurs currently embroiled in a full-on relegation scrap.

The goal is clearly to avoid the drop, but the big question is whether the Italian has the ability to navigate a relegation battle.

A few pundits believe so, with Jay Bothroyd of the belief that De Zerbi will achieve big things, while Jermain Defoe is sure the new Spurs boss will succeed.

Meanwhile, other pundits are not optimistic, with Tim Sherwood of the opinion that De Zerbi is far from a safe pair of hands at the moment.

Tottenham relegation prediction after Roberto De Zerbi appointment

We have now turned to a supercomputer to assess how likely Tottenham are to avoid the drop and where exactly they are set to finish this season following the latest appointment of De Zerbi.

According to numbers crunched by Opta’s supercomputer, Tottenham are expected to beat the drop this season and retain their Premier League status.

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The AI, however, expects it to be a tightly fought relegation scrap, but it is Spurs that have been forecast to come out on top, finishing 17th in the Premier League.

Tottenham are predicted to manage 38 points, while West Ham, who are 18th, are set to finish on 37, narrowly missing out on retaining their English top-flight status.

Spurs’ relegation odds compared to rivals

The AI has also crunched the numbers on how likely Spurs are to be relegated this term after their poor run. According to the data, the Lilywhites have a 27.11% chance of getting relegated this season under the stewardship of Roberto De Zerbi.

As for West Ham, they have been handed a 57.39% chance of being relegated this campaign, the highest of any side currently in the relegation scrap.

Meanwhile, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest have a 6.79% and an 8.76% chance, respectively.

Jermain Defoe, who has only just taken on his first managerial role, has now opened up on whether new Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi will succeed in north London.

Tottenham Hotspur have had their final throw of the dice – appointing Roberto De Zerbi as manager – in a bid to salvage what has been a dismal Premier League campaign thus far.

De Zerbi arrives in the thick of a relegation scrap, with Tottenham just a single point above the bottom three in the English top flight.

The margin for error is minimal, with results of utmost importance for the former Brighton manager, who has seven games left to turn Spurs’ season around.

Jermain Defoe gives verdict on Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham

The jury is still out on whether De Zerbi is up to the task, but it is evident Tottenham are placing their trust in him, having handed him a five-year contract.

Reports have also claimed De Zerbi’s commitment goes beyond Spurs’ Premier League status, with the Italian said to be willing to remain in north London even if Tottenham were to go down.

Jermain Defoe has now given his view on the appointment, outlining his admiration for De Zerbi’s style of play and his pedigree.

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Speaking to Sky Sports, Defoe highlighted the Italian’s footballing philosophy before backing his ability to succeed: “Yeah, I mean, he’s someone who comes in with an unbelievable CV. When you look at his playing style as a football fan, you have to appreciate and enjoy the way they play.

“I remember his Brighton team, watching Brighton play, thinking, ‘Wow, this is the right way to play football’. He’s going into a massive football club.

“But he’s someone, with a good CV and, you know, someone who backs himself, and I just hope this group of players can respond to that and just get the results that they need.”

Spurs situation demands a response from players

Jermain Defoe, now head coach of Woking FC in the National League, also acknowledged the scale of the challenge, highlighting the unfamiliar territory Tottenham now find themselves in.

However, he remains hopeful that De Zerbi can spark a response from the squad.

Introducing his point about the players’ lack of experience in such situations, Defoe again stressed the need for a collective reaction while backing the new manager to deliver results.

He added, “A lot of the players haven’t experienced this before. The fans and the club have not been through this situation before.

“So, hopefully they can come out of it, and with this manager, I’m sure he’s good enough to get the results they need.”

Roberto De Zerbi outlined his vision at Tottenham Hotspur, including his footballing philosophy and what he expects from his players.

Tottenham Hotspur’s new boss – Roberto De Zerbi – has addressed fans in greater detail for the first time since his appointment, providing answers to a couple of big questions.

The former Brighton manager has reassured that, regardless of results, he will remain Tottenham manager next season – even if the club are playing in the Championship.

De Zerbi also offered an apology regarding his comments on Mason Greenwood, clarifying that he did not mean to take a stance after there had been a reasonable backlash from Tottenham fans.

Tottenham’s Roberto De Zerbi explains style of play ahead of Premier League run-in

The new Spurs boss has now provided more clarity on his tactical approach. There have been a few reservations about his expansive style of play, with pundits questioning whether that is what is needed at Tottenham right now.

Tim Sherwood claimed a safe pair of hands would have been the way to go, while William Gallas believed that Harry Redknapp would have been the better pick at this stage of the season.

Addressing his style of play and tactical approach during the Premier League run-in, De Zerbi told official Tottenham media: “I love keeping the ball, I love possession, I love to create chances to score.

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“But at the same time, I love having 11 defenders when we do not have the ball, because in this time of football, we have to attack with 11 players, with the goalkeeper as well. We have to defend with 11 players when the ball is not for us.

“I think in this moment, we have no time to work too much on more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch. We have to have a good organisation on the pitch, with the ball, without the ball. We have to consider the qualities of the players.

“We are lucky, I am lucky because I have big players with big talent and my work is to help the players to show their qualities.”

Neal Maupay already made it clear to Tottenham fans that they are getting a manager who breathes football.

The Italian has now made it clear that those comments were true. Speaking about his deep connection to the game and what football means to him, De Zerbi told official Tottenham media:

“Many times, I have said that football is my life and my life is football, but it is true because football is my work. I respect football because football gave me everything. And for me, it is not real work, it is a passion. If I stay at home, I watch football. If I work, I watch football and nothing changes. Stay at home or to be a coach.

“For me, Tottenham, especially in this moment, is maybe the most important challenge in my career. I am ready to start this challenge and I want to work with my characteristics, with my passion, with my vision of football and with my knowledge as well.

Roberto De Zerbi began his life as Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach by outlining his mindset and his knowledge of Spurs games this season.

Tottenham Hotspur are in a very precarious position in the Premier League this season, with relegation a very real possibility.

Spurs find themselves just one point above the bottom three and, with seven games left in the league this season, it is anyone’s guess who will be relegated and who will remain in the English top flight.

Tottenham, however, have made their final throw of the dice, sacking Igor Tudor after an underwhelming 44 days in the Spurs dugout and hiring Roberto De Zerbi to help pull off the great escape.

There is no denying the 46-year-old is a talented head coach with Premier League experience, and Tottenham will hope that is enough to see them through what has been a turbulent season thus far.

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Tottenham Roberto De Zerbi speaks on appointment and survival hopes

The new Spurs boss has now sat down with the Tottenham media team to share his thoughts on the club’s hopes of survival this campaign.

De Zerbi made clear that his love for football has seen him monitor Spurs in recent seasons and that he is confident the squad has the quality needed to beat the drop.

Addressing how he feels about taking on the role, and his belief in the squad, De Zerbi told official Tottenham media: “I’m very happy and very proud to be here. I consider Tottenham one of the most important clubs in the world, so I’m very happy.

“I have a big responsibility, but it’s a big challenge for me, and I’m looking forward to start and to work with the players and to win some games.

“I watched a lot of games, especially in the last period. I know very well the players. I love football, so I watch many, many games per week. I know everything. I know it’s a tough moment for Tottenham, but I know very well it’s a tough moment. It’s a difficult moment for everyone at Tottenham. I think we have the right qualities to come out of this moment.

“I believe in the players. I think we have to remember who we are and who the players are, because we have very big players and we have to work on their confidence and qualities. They have to show what they are and what they are good at playing.”

Spurs fixtures in focus for Roberto De Zerbi

Tottenham are not in action this weekend but will return next weekend with a clash against newly promoted Sunderland, who have been impressive this season and sit 11th in the league table.

When Spurs last met the Black Cats, the match ended in a draw earlier this season; however, a lot has changed since then.

Looking ahead to the fixtures and stressing a game-by-game approach, De Zerbi outlined his focus for the run-in.

He added, “I think we have to be focused just on the Sunderland game. I do not want to speak about the schedule or the Brighton game or the Wolverhampton game. Game by game, we have to prepare the players to win the game and to be focused just on the game.

“We have to play with courage. We have to play with the qualities of the players, because if I accept this challenge, it is because I have a big confidence in the players and the style of the history of Tottenham football is a very clear style of play.”

The former Brighton manager also opened up on how vital support from the Spurs fans is going into the final games of the season.

He called for togetherness and for his players to show the right mentality and attitude to give back to the supporters who are sure to play their role in the relegation dog fight.

He continued: “The fans in the last seven games, especially in this moment, are crucial. We have to be together. They have to stay close to the players, help the players and the players have to show the right mentality, the right attitude to give back to the fans’ satisfaction and what they want to see on the pitch. Because after this part of the season, I think we can become great in the future.”

Roberto De Zerbi has clarified what he will do if Tottenham Hotspur get relegated from the Premier League this season.

There is no doubt that eyebrows were raised when it was announced that De Zerbi had signed a five-year deal with Tottenham, given his history of not lasting long at clubs.

Many assumed that De Zerbi would be off in the summer if Spurs get relegated, but reports have indicated that the Tottenham boss has no relegation break clause in his contract.

In fact, some sources have claimed that the Italian is committed to rebuilding Spurs even if they are in the Championship next term, and the 46-year-old has now clarified his stance.

Roberto De Zerbi confirms he will be Tottenham boss next season

In his first interview as Spurs boss, the newcomer reiterated that he sees this as a long-term project in North London – something the Lilywhites haven’t really had in practice since Mauricio Pochettino.

De Zerbi insisted that he will remain in charge of the North London club next season, even if they are not in the top tier of English football for the first time in 48 years.

He told the club’s official channel: “I signed a five-year contract because for me, it is a big challenge. I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what.”

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Having an interim in place did not work for the Lilywhites, as it is always difficult for Igor Tudor to get a buy-in from the squad when the players know that there will be a new guy in charge in the summer.

That was perhaps why Tottenham decided to push forward a permanent appointment, and according to reports, De Zerbi was always Spurs’ top managerial target for the summer.

The Italian’s commitment to the cause will provide some certainty for everyone at the club, and the club’s hierarchy will be hoping that the newcomer can get an instant response from the players.

Roberto De Zerbi has directly addressed his controversial comments regarding Mason Greenwood after some Tottenham fans expressed concerns about the new Spurs boss’s character.

Greenwood, who was arrested in 2020 on suspicion of rape and assault, only for the charges to be dropped in 2023, was signed by Marseille after De Zerbi had taken charge of the French club.

The Tottenham boss appeared to defend Greenwood last year, calling him “a good guy” and insisting that he paid “a very heavy price for his mistakes”.

He said: “He’s a good guy, he paid a heavy price for what happened, a very heavy price. He has found the right environment for him. We have lent him a hand and given him affection.

“He’s a little bit introverted but I know him and his family. It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described in England.”

Multiple Tottenham fan groups expressed their opposition to De Zerbi’s appointment due to those comments.

Roberto De Zerbi apologises to Tottenham fans for any hurt caused

Even after he was announced as the next head coach, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust said they cannot support De Zerbi’s appointment, revealing that they had received many emails from supporters raising concerns about the 46-year-old’s arrival.

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However, the new Spurs head coach has now clarified that he never intended to downplay the issue of violence against women, and apologised to those whose feelings may have been hurt by his words.

De Zerbi told Tottenham’s official channel: “I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women, or violence against anyone more broadly.

“In my life, I have always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I’ve consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk.

“Those of you who know me well, will know I’m not the type of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title. I’m sorry if this offended anyone’s feelings with this subject matter – I have a daughter, and I’m very sensitive to these things, and I always have been.

“I hope that over time, people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment, I didn’t mean to take a stance.”

Will De Zerbi’s apology have the desired effect?

It was clear that a significant portion of the Tottenham fan base is not on board with De Zerbi’s appointment, and that appears to be more to do with his controversial past than with footballing reasons.

The club and De Zerbi have both done the right thing by addressing the issue head-on rather than ignoring it and hoping the story goes away.

Only time will tell if it is enough to change the minds of those supporters who took such a strong stance against his appointment in the first place.

Tottenham Hotspur fan favourite Sandro has revealed that he has always wanted to see Roberto De Zerbi take charge of Spurs, and has explained why the supporters should be very excited.

While the new Tottenham head coach has not been short of controversy across his career, it is clear that the players who have worked with the Italian absolutely adore him.

Over the past 24 hours, we have seen Adam Lallana confidently assert that De Zerbi will keep Tottenham up, and he even admitted that he is jealous that Spurs now have the 46-year-old in charge.

Sandro previously named De Zerbi as his favourite manager, and the former Spurs star has now shed light on what the newcomer will bring to N17.

Sando is delighted that his Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham wish has come true

The former Tottenham midfielder played under De Zerbi at Benevento in 2018, when he was a young coach who was just starting in his managerial career.

However, the Brazilian revealed that he always felt that the Italian coach would be the perfect option for Spurs, given his style of play and the passion he has.

Sandro has even been rumoured to join De Zerbi at Tottenham as an assistant coach (Football London).

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When asked about De Zerbi’s arrival at Spurs, Sandro told Tottenham’s official website: “To be fair, I always thought Roberto would be a manager for us. When I met him and when I played for him in Italy, because I like Tottenham, straight away I thought this would be the manager to put Tottenham at the highest level.

“I’m so, so happy because this came true and he’s here now. It’s a huge moment for us, an important moment for us, and he’s the right one to be there for me, no doubt. I wish him the best of luck, I will support the team as always and with him, it’s a pleasure to watch and see what he does. \

“You guys will love him, he suits us with his style of play, he’s got passion, vision and intelligence. I am becoming a manager now because of him, because of what he did with me in Benevento. In that moment, I said I want to be a manager because I really trust in the work this guy does. He is so passionate and I’m so excited to see him at Spurs – it’s a great feeling!”

Sandro sheds light on what sets De Zerbi’s methods apart

The 37-year-old explained that the new Tottenham head coach stands out from the others due to his hyper-specific training ahead of each game.

Sandro admitted that he found matches to be straightforward under De Zerbi, given the amount of preparation that had been done on the training ground.

When asked why the former Brighton boss made such a strong impression on him, he said: “He gave us – the players – everything that we needed for the game. Each game is different and the way he approached each game was amazing. The players need to trust in him, and I will say that they will trust him because they will see the results of his work. In my first game with him, I felt that the game was easier because I knew everything that was coming, because we did it in training.

“It’s amazing – his strength is to give the players what the game needs. He gives that every day in the training sessions. With De Zerbi, five minutes in a training session matters because he wants every minute to be important. For him, he will use these five minutes with reason – everything matters.”

Dejan Kulusevski has made a bold statement about his return to action as the Tottenham star steps up his rehabilitation.

The attacking midfielder has been out with a knee problem since May of last year, with the injury ruling him out of the club’s Europa League final win over Man United.

Reports indicate that Tottenham are waiting for the pain in Kulusevski’s knee to subside before stepping up his rehabilitation, and there is thus no clear timeline for the attacking midfielder’s return.

The Spurs star has provided some positive updates regarding his recovery over recent weeks, and he now has a clear goal in mind.

Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski would ‘bet’ on himself to play at the World Cup

Kulusevski’s World Cup dream is alive as Sweden, with the help of fellow Tottenham star Lucas Bergvall, secured passage to the tournament via the playoffs.

After overcoming Ukraine in the playoff semifinal last week, Graham Potter’s men secured a dramatic 3-2 win against Poland on Tuesday to book their flight to North America this summer.

Kulusevski is determined to play in the biggest tournament in football and remains confident that he will be ready to go.

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When asked about his World Cup chances, the 25-year-old told Viaplay (as relayed by Football.London): “I haven’t played in a year. I know what the chances are. But if there is one person on the planet who can do this, I would bet on myself. And we are not just going there to participate. Sweden will aim to be one of the best.

“As long as I live, I will do everything I can so that Sweden, when we go out and play, will not be afraid of anyone. Brazil, France, whoever they are. That’s why I’m on this planet. To give faith and love to my people.”

Kulusevski admits he wanted to be there for his Sweden teammates

The Tottenham man linked up with the Sweden squad for the playoffs, even though he was not fit to train or play.

Kulusevski confessed that he wanted to be there to provide moral support to his teammates despite the physical challenges of doing so.

Speaking after his own role in the Sweden camp, the former Juventus star said: “I don’t want to take anything for myself. I want those who play to get all the credit. But I still want to be there for my little brothers. And I wanted to be part of this. Of course, it’s hard to have a limp and not be able to walk up stairs, but I put that ego aside. Because I want to celebrate with the guys.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s appointment of Roberto De Zerbi continues to divide opinion, but Jay Bothroyd believes the club may have made the right call.

There has been a lot of talk about Tottenham Hotspur’s appointment of Roberto De Zerbi on a long-term deal, as they turn to the Italian to help them beat the drop this season.

A few pundits think Spurs would have been better served going for a more pragmatic manager with a less expansive style of play, given the dire situation the north London club finds itself in.

Meanwhile, three Tottenham supporter groups believe the controversy surrounding De Zerbi is not doing the club’s public image any good, following his backing of Mason Greenwood.

Greenwood moved to Marseille after he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault, only for the charges to be dropped later due to the withdrawal of key witnesses.

Regardless of controversy, Spurs opted for the Italian, and Johan Lange, speaking about De Zerbi’s appointment, stated that the former Brighton manager was Tottenham’s first choice – one they are happy to have secured.

Tottenham and Roberto De Zerbi backed by Jay Bothroyd

Jay Bothroyd has now offered his take on Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment, explaining his belief that the Italian can bring stability and success to Tottenham, not only short-term, but long-term.

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He believes that in the near future, De Zerbi could deliver European football to north London.

He told Sky Sport, “They need stability. I think regardless of where Tottenham is in the league, I think De Zerbi is a very, very good manager that will do very well at Tottenham.

“I really like him. I like the way he carries himself. I like the fact he is a bit… he can be a bit outrageous. He might say things, but I like characters.

“They are the kind of people I gravitate to. They are the kind of players I gravitate to. I think he will stay, he has got a five-year deal, but obviously they have had that conversation where it is like if we go down, he is not going to just want to pick up and leave, but ultimately I think that those players that are at Tottenham Football Club are good enough to stay in the Premier League and, with him as manager, I would not be surprised if they finished in the European spots next year.”

Spurs squad future addressed amid relegation concerns

While there is a feeling that many Tottenham players will jump ship should the club go to the Championship, Bothroyd holds a different view.

The former Premier League striker believes that Spurs will only sell players if their valuation is met, adding that a few Tottenham stars are likely to struggle to secure moves away from north London.

He continued: “I always hear from fans saying there is going to be… everyone is going to leave. It is not like that because obviously Tottenham have a valuation of a player. If that valuation is not met or if Tottenham does not let them leave, then they cannot leave.

“I mean, for example, James Maddison – who is going to buy James Maddison, who has been injured all year? It is not going to happen. Dominic Solanke might, Cristian Romero might, Micky van de Ven, yes, but beyond that, where are you looking to say they are definitely going to go?

“They are definitely going to move on because, again, to someone on £150,000-£200,000 a week, there are not many clubs that will do that, and some of these players are on big money, so it is not easy to just say everyone is going to leave.”