Tottenham Hotspur

Match Centre  Tottenham Hotspur

Having fallen behind after 13 minutes with Daniel Ogunleye striking for the hosts, Reiss Elliott-Parris levelled the scores just 34 seconds after coming off the bench with 26 minutes played.

With just six minutes remaining of the first half though, the hosts would find what turned out to be the the game's match winner as Olly Box turned the ball home from a tight angle.

The game saw our new Nike 2026/27 Home shirt in action for the first time while recent arrival Cole Ramsey made his first appearance for the Under-21s.

While this was our pre-season opener, it was hosts Ebbsfleet's fifth of July already, and it was noticeable. We started the game tentatively while the Kent side were on the front foot from the off.

A side who like to play with pace and power, getting the ball in behind the defence, that was their game plan and it was a threat to us throughout the first period. In the opening exchanges, their balls over the top or threaded passes through the middle caused issues for our high line and, on 13 minutes, we eventually paid for that when Ogunleye was played in. The forward taking a touch before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Sam Archer.

We responded well though and found parity just before the half-hour mark. The goal came through Elliott-Parris and it must have come from just his second or third touch in the game. Brought on for Miracle Adewole just 34 seconds earlier, the forward picked the ball up on the right-hand side of the box, cut inside before curling with his left into the far corner of the net.

That goal however seemed just a brief moment of success for us as Ebbsfleet kicked on once again from that moment. They came inches away from retaking the lead moments later when Ben Chapman volleyed over the bar before they did find the advantage through substitute Olly Box on 39 minutes. In similar fashion to their opener, the ball was once again threaded through our backline for Box to run onto, Archer seemed to do enough to put off the forward as he rushed forward forced him wide of goal. Yet, even with three defenders back on the line and at a tight angle, Box still managed to hook the ball home.

With many, many changes made to both sides after the break - as is part of the course in pre-season - the rhythm of the game took a hit leaving play a tad fractured. It wasn't until the closing stages where any real chances were created. The majority of those came the way of Ebbsfleet, who had by this point changed their full XI, but we stood firm, performing admirably defensively to keep the Fleet at bay.

Next up for our Under-21s is a trip to Boreham Wood on Tuesday evening - kick-off 7.30pm (UK).

Our five summer signings – Shekiera Martinez, Caitlin Dijkstra, Kirsty Hanson, Victoria Pelova and Selma Panengstuen – joined their new team-mates for the first day of pre-season testing on Friday.

Shekiera, Kirsty and Victoria are household names amongst fans across the Barclays Women’s Super League, having impressed in the last few seasons for West Ham United, Aston Villa and Arsenal respectively.

Caitlin, meanwhile, arrives in England for the first time in her career as she joins us from VfL Wolfsburg where she spent the last two campaigns, gaining valuable experience in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Rising through the leagues in her homeland of Norway, goalkeeper Selma also embarks on a new chapter in the early stages of her career – also her first time in England - after completing a move to us from SK Brann, where she was coached by Martin Ho and played alongside Signe Gaupset.

Gym work and physical testing was first up for our players as preparations for the 2026/27 WSL campaigns begin – which is scheduled to start on the weekend across 4/5/6 September.

Check out how our newest arrivals got on in their first day of pre-season testing.

Gallery | New arrivals get to work

SPURSPLAY

Born and raised in the Czech Republic capital, Prague holds a very special place in 'Toni's' heart and mind.

The city that shaped him and where his family still reside, whenever he has the chance to return home, it is always a moment he never takes for granted.

This summer, we joined our goalkeeper on his return home to discover more about his home, his family and his journey to Spurs - and now a special feature has been released...

Watch - Kinsky in Prague | Toni's summer at home

Check out the behind-the-scenes photos from the feature in our galllery.

SPURSPLAY

Having learned our three opponents in Group A of the Southern section of the competition last month, the schedule for the three group stage matches has been confirmed this week.

First up for our Under-21s is a trip to St James Park in Devon to play League Two side Exeter City on Tuesday, 8 September, before an away clash with another League Two opponent in Cheltenham Town on Tuesday, 13 October (both 7pm BST kick-offs).

We faced Steve Cotterill’s Cheltenham in last season’s competition, where Rio Kyerematen’s 89th-minute equaliser forced a penalty shootout. The Robins were 3-1 winners on penalties at the EV Charger Points Stadium, claiming an extra point after a 2-2 draw in which Oliver Irow also scored

Our final Group A clash sees us visit League One outfit Oxford United on Tuesday, 24 November. Kick-off at the Kassam Stadium is at 7pm GMT.

Under-21s EFL Trophy Southern Group A fixtures

Exeter City vs Tottenham Hotspur U21

Tuesday 8 September 2026 - 7:00pm kick off

St James Park

*Subject to Exeter City's progression to Carabao Cup Round 3

Cheltenham Town vs Tottenham Hotspur U21

Tuesday 13 October 2026 - 7:00pm kick off

EV Charger Points Stadium

Oxford United vs Tottenham Hotspur U21

Tuesday 24 November 2026 - 7:00pm kick off

The Kassam Stadium

Women's Pre-season 2026/27  Tottenham Hotspur

Once again, we are graced with the presence of Spurs players on the biggest football stage - Pedro Porro lines up for La Furia Roja with Cuti Romero and new signing Marcos Senesi with La Albiceleste.

Christian Ziege was first up for Germany against Brazil in 2002, Hugo Lloris our first winner in 2018 and Cuti our second winner, last time around in 2022. Hugo made it two final appearances in Qatar in 2022, beaten by Cuti's Argentina in the final.

Cuti looks set to make his second appearance in the final, Pedro has been a regular for Spain throughout the tournament - and scored in the semi-final win against France - and Marcos featured in the group stage.

Looking at the wider picture, 11 Spurs players, past or present, have played in the World Cup Final.

In order of appearance - Martin Peters (for England, 1966), Ossie Ardiles (Argentina, 1978), Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany, 1990), Nicola Berti (Italy, 1994), Christian Ziege (Germany, 2002), William Gallas (France, 2006), Rafa van der Vaart (Holland, 2010), Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric (Croatia, 2018), Hugo Lloris (France, 2018; 2022) and Cristian Romero (Argentina, 2022).

As stated above, of those players, only Christian, Hugo and Cuti were Spurs players at the time of their appearance.

To gain some perspective as to the scale of a World Cup Final, viewing figures suggest a total audience of 1.5 billion watched Argentina topple France in 2022. By way of contrast, Super Bowl LX was viewed by an estimated 125.6 million.

So, what's it like to walk out in a game watched by everyone, a game that could define you as footballer, a game where you could be a hero for life?

Four years ago, we spoke a quartet of players who have experienced what it means to step out on the biggest stage in football, plus an insight from Martin Peters, who sadly passed away in 2019, from his autobiography, 'The Ghost of '66'.

Martin Peters - 1966

Writing in his autobiography, 'The Ghost of '66', published in 2006, Martin Peters was able to describe what it meant to win the World Cup 40 years earlier in 1966, that famous day at Wembley England beat West Germany 4-2 to lift the famous trophy for the one and, so far, only time.

"Before 30 July 1966 I was just another of the 2000 or so professionals in the Football League. By the end of that day, I'd become one of only 11 Englishmen to win the World Cup. From then on, life would never quite be the same for me, or for many others..."

Martin, at West Ham at the time - he joined us in 1970 as part of the deal that took Jimmy Greaves to Upton Park - scored England's second goal in the final as Geoff Hurst's hat-trick saw former Spur Alf Ramsey's team home. Hurst had come in for our legendary striker Jimmy Greaves, who was injured in the final group game, replaced by Hurst in the quarter-final and the not selected by Ramsey for the semi-final and final.

On his goal, he wrote: "For a second I couldn't take it all in. Suddenly, the roar of the crowd was rolling down the terraces. I'd scored - in the World Cup Final! It was the most extraordinary moment (pictured above), like being struck by lightning. My fingers were tingling with the excitement. My head was spinning."

Martin was part of Bill Nicholson's successful team of the early 1970s, helping us land the League Cup twice (1971, 1973) and the UEFA Cup in 1973. He sadly passed away in 2019.

Ossie Ardiles - 1978

Speaking to us at the start of the 2022 tournament in Qatar, Ossie recalled how he was an injury doubt for what would be his greatest moment in a football shirt, now almost 50 years ago.

"To play in a World Cup Final… you know immediately that it’s going to be the most important game in your life. It’s as simple as that. You know it’s crucial. From my own point of view, I was injured before the final, and they only decided to play me the day before the final. I was very doubtful. Two days before I couldn’t even walk! I had a broken toe on my left foot, very painful. This is why I didn’t play in the semi-final, because, for me to play in the final, I had two injections, one either side of the toe. I knew I wouldn’t last the 90 minutes, so I was subbed after 66 minutes.

"I was extraordinarily happy just to start the game. I’d played in every single game for three years so suddenly not being able to play in the World Cup Final would have been an incredible disappointment. The one thing in my mind was if I was going to play or not. Then, when I played, I was still a little disappointed that in the biggest game of my life, I was not going to be 100 per cent fit. At the end of the day, I’m very grateful that I started the game and was able to play for 66 minutes, that was great.

"Just to play, the nervousness, it’s huge. You can’t compare it with anything. I played in a lot of finals and big, big games, and, okay, sometimes I felt a few butterflies before the game, but at the World Cup, especially the first game and the final, the nervousness… you cannot control it. In fact, when you play the game, it’s like you are watching a movie. It’s a feeling going through you like you are watching, something happens and it’s almost like you are not involved, it's a funny feeling.

"The pressure was incredibly high. You cannot possibly describe it. Lifting the trophy, there was incredible happiness, joy, you cannot compare the joy when you do that, also, the feeling was one of relief that it was finished, and we’d won it. Then you think about what it means to the people in your life. I thought about my wife, my son Pablo was already born, my father, my mother, my brothers, friends, it all comes to you mind in a flash."

Ossie joined us immediately after the 1978 World Cup alongside Ricky Villa, who was in Argentina's squad but didn't make the matchday squad for the final. It was a transfer swoop from Keith Burkinshaw that helped transform the Club. Just back in the First Division after relegation in 1977/78, Ossie and Ricky played key roles as we lifted the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982 and the UEFA Cup in 1984. Ossie later managed the first team, and remains as popular as ever in his role as Club Ambassador.

Rafa van der Vaart - 2010

Rafa van der Vaart had just got over the dismay of a World Cup Final defeat when he joined us on the final day of the transfer window in the summer of 2010.

Excitement was high as Rafa arrived from Real Madrid - we were about to step into our first-ever UEFA Champions League campaign, and Rafa's style looked the perfect fit for Harry Redknapp's team. As his skipper Ledley King would later say, 'it's almost like he was born to play for Spurs, he was that kind of fit'.

Rafa delivered, as well, in a short but sweet spell in a Spurs shirt, particularly against Arsenal, where his four goals in four derbies - and unbridled joy at scoring them - was a delight for all fans.

That's a contrast though to the devastation he felt after the 2010 World Cup Final in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Capped 109 times by the Netherlands, Rafa entered the final off the bench in extra time, with the score at 0-0, and was handed the captain's armband when Gio van Bronckhorst departed on 105 minutes. However, heartbreak arrived 10 minutes later when Spanish legend Andreas Iniesta fired home the only goal of the game. Rafa was closest to the decisive action as well - captured in the photo above - he slid in in vain to try and stop Iniesta in front of goal.

Speaking to us 12 years on, Rafa recalled: "I came off the bench in 2010, in extra time, so, when you don't start a final, it's always a little bit different. It's about the whole tournament though and then, when you get to the final, you notice it's a different day. Of course, I was quite relaxed because I wasn't starting, but I could tell everyone was nervous.

"Also, it's the biggest game of your life, the biggest game in the world. That's why we play football. I'm so thankful, even though we lost, that I got the chance to play in a World Cup Final. It was an amazing feeling."

Hugo Lloris - 2018

Hugo Lloris became the first Spurs player to win the World Cup when he lived the dream in Moscow in 2018, as captain, lifting the coveted all-gold FIFA World Cup Trophy after France's 4-2 win against Croatia.

Four years later, he became the first Spur to appear in two World Cup Finals - this time his dreams dashed by Argentina, including Cuti Romero.

France's all-time appearance maker with 145 caps, Hugo spoke to us on his return from Russia back in 2018.

"It’s an achievement that is difficult to describe and I will always be grateful to my team-mates because you win trophies as a team and it meant a lot, in all aspects of the game, but also outside the pitch. You need something extra to go to this success and it’s not easy. It’s something that we have done and we will keep it for years among the French football memories. This year’s competition now too - you have to feel the energy, you have to feel that it’s something unique and you want to enjoy it.”

Ivan Perisic - 2018

Ivan Perisic broke English hearts in 2018 before experiencing the toughest blow of them all, scoring but ending up on the losing side in the World Cup Final.

Starring for Inter at that time, Ivan fired home the equaliser against England in the semi-final, before Mario Mandzukic hit the winner in the second half of extra time for Croatia to take their place against France - and Hugo Lloris - in the final.

Ivan was on target again in the biggest game of all at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. This time, he lashed home from the edge of the box for 1-1 - pictured below - but Les Bleus would prevail, and were 4-1 up by the time Mandzukic struck again, 4-2 the final scoreline.

Speaking to us before travelling out to Qatar in 2022, where he helped Croatia reach the semi-finals again, Ivan recalled that final in 2018...

"It was something amazing. We had a great tournament and, for a small country like this, to play in the final against France was something special. We played a good game, okay, we lost, but we can be proud of what we achieved there.

"When you start to play football, you dream of doing something like this. I can say that I played in the final of the World Cup and I think that it's going to be the best thing in my career."

New signings Shekiera Martinez, Caitlin Dijkstra, Kirsty Hanson, Victoria Pelova and Selma Panengstuen were amongst the players to report to our Enfield training base and join up with the group for the first time.

As always with the first day of pre-season, the main focus was physical tests as our players were put through a series of strength and power tests in the gym.

Head Coach Martin Ho was also in attendance as the countdown begins to our eighth season in the Barclays Women’s Super League – scheduled to get underway across the weekend of 4/5/6 September.

Take a look through the gallery of photos below as we went behind-the-scenes on day one of pre-season.

Gallery | Day one of pre-season testing