Tottenham Hotspur fans will still be wondering how they didn’t win anything during the Mauricio Pochettino era.
From missing out on the Premier League title to Leicester City to losing the Champions League final, they came very close, but it wasn’t enough.
One thing that can’t be argued about is that Tottenham had some serious high-level quality players at their disposal.
Most of them have now left, with now-Spurs captain Son Heung-min the only one really left and hoping to win that much-craved trophy.
One of the players who Son shared a dressing room with on a regular basis was Jan Vertonghen – he left the club in 2020.
Not only will Vertonghen wonder how he didn’t win any silverware at Spurs, but he will be thinking the same about his Belgium side as the so-called golden generation comes to an end.
On Monday, Belgium suffered a late and heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to France with Vertonghen’s own goal proving to be the difference – he became the oldest player (37 years, 68 days) to score an own goal at the Euros (OptaJohan).
Gary Neville was critical of the former Spurs man and how he will be ‘beyond disappointed’ with his defending during that moment, as he told ITV Sport.
The Manchester United legend felt that Vertonghen, who is now 37, should have closed Kolo Muani a lot quicker, instead, he let him turn and shoot. All of which proved to be costly.
Jan Vertonghen and Belgium knocked out of Euro 2024
“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.
“They have their players back Belgium. They have no problems and they have been in plenty situations like this in the match. France are recycling it and moving it around. At this point, you are thinking Belgium are in that shape they have been in all game. There isn’t much happening. Then they quicken it up, it gets played into Griezmann who switches it wide and then you are in a bit of a problem.
“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.”
Jan Vertonghen was an underrated figure at Tottenham
You can’t deny that Vertonghen was a top, top player during his days in the Premier League and he probably didn’t get the recognition he deserved.
Toby Alderweireld was his partner in crime during his days in north London and the duo formed a quite outstanding partnership.
READ MORE: Tottenham Hotspur open talks to sign ‘phenomenal’ teenager
You have to say that it has taken Spurs quite a while to replace those two because they have gone through some troublesome years.
But with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero now, this is a partnership under Ange Postecoglou that can really flourish and hit those heights the Belgian duo reached.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
