5 min: Dasilva pounces on a loose pas by Aurier and dribbles past two and into the Spurs area. But when the ball runs away from him, Sanchez whacks it off him and it ricochet into the arms of Lloris.
4 min: Mbeumo gets the wrong side of Reguilon and curls over an inviting cross. But Sanchez is well positioned to head clear.
3 min: It’s been a confident start from Spurs, with all their main players getting useful touches. Ndombele plays a particularly nice pass through to Son, who knocks it wide to Reguilon, who wins a corner. It’s cleared easily.
1 min: Brentford set the semi-final in motion by kicking the ball straight back to their keeper, who wellies it downfield.
The players march down the tunnel and on to the pitch, to absolutely no applause or cheers. Each side wears their customary colours: Spurs in white shirts and navy blue knickerbockers, Brentford in red-and-white stripes and black knicks.
“White and Hart on the bench tonight is up there with Arsene managing Arsenal, but Hartley and Poole once playing for Hartlepool can never be beaten,” declares Antony Wilson, who has presumably forgotten that Wolfsburg used to be managed by Wolfgang Wolf.
Updated
“With White and Hart on the bench for Spurs, couldn’t Jose have had a laugh and asked Kane to put his feet up too?” writes Risha Mohyeddin with a chortle.
Thomas Frank speaks
Firstly, he reveals that Pontus Jansson would have been picked but is suffering from a minor injury. He also says the fact that this tie is being contested over one leg rather than the usual two increases the chances of Brentford pulling of an upset in their first ever semi-final. “We all know it’s not an everyday game but we are looking forward to it. Let’s try to attack, do our best and see what happens. Everybody knows Tottenham are big favourites and name-for-name are a better team than us but the fact it’s only one game helps us.”
Sissoko speaks
Moussa Sissoko has ben speaking to Sky Sports and reveals Jose Mourinho’s instructions, which, apparently, really do include “don’t sit back”: “He told us to take this team seriously because they are a very god opponent, doing very well in the Championship. Everyone wants to be in the final so it’s going to be a big battle. Let’s do everything to go through. Be strong defensively and when you have the ball, go forward. Don’t sit back and don’t wait.”
Teams
Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Lucas, Ndombele, Son; Kane
Subs: Alderweireld, Alli, White, Hart, Davies, Bergwijn, Winks, Vinicius
Brentford: Raya; Dalsgaard, Pinnock, Beck Sorensen, Henry; DAsilva, Janelt, Jansen; Mbeuno, Toney, Canos
Subs: Daniels, Forss, Fosu, Ghoddos, Gilbert, Haygarth, Marconedes, Rasmussen, Stevens
Referee: M Dean
Hello. Spurs haven’t won a major trophy for 13 years and it would mean a lot to them and José Mourinho to get one in the cabinet as soon as possible. Brentford don’t even need a cabinet (although, as Richard Foster details here, they they did win the London War Cup in 1942, which is not to be sniffed at). Now both clubs have a chance to end long waits, or at least to meet a Manchester club in the Carabao Cup final. Spurs are the obvious favourites but that means nothing to Brentford, who have already ousted four Premier League clubs to get this far.
This is Brentford first match of the year, because their joust with Bristol City last weekend was postponed owing to Covid-19. They have a fully fit squad, except for the injured Christian Norgaard. Spurs are without several players, including Matt Doherty, Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela. But they have a big squad and no credible excuses. It’s on.
