Tottenham player ratings vs AZ Alkmaar – 2/10 for three shocking senior stars

The first-leg Europa League Round of 16 match between AZ Alkmaar and Tottenham Hotspur was a crucial contest for both teams. Spurs were hoping to make an impression away from home and establish a strong foundation heading into the second leg. However, the match ended in disappointment for Tottenham, with the team failing to perform to their usual standards. The overall performance from the squad was underwhelming, with several players failing to rise to the occasion. In this match, Tottenham struggled to find any rhythm and were ultimately outplayed by a strong AZ Alkmaar side. Here, we’ll break down the individual performances from each Tottenham player, rating them on a scale of 1-10 based on their contributions during the match

Guglielmo Vicario had one of the few bright spots for Tottenham in what was otherwise a disappointing night. The Italian goalkeeper played a key role in keeping the scoreline at 1-0 for much of the match, making several crucial saves to prevent AZ Alkmaar from doubling their lead. His most important moment came early in the first half when he denied an in-form Parrott with a fantastic one-on-one save. This intervention helped keep his team in the game and showed his quality under pressure.

Vicario’s decision-making and shot-stopping abilities were on display throughout the match, as he remained alert to the threats posed by AZ Alkmaar’s attacking players. Though Spurs’ defense had its fair share of lapses, Vicario remained a steady presence in goal, ensuring that the team didn’t concede more goals. Despite the result, his performance was a shining light and proved that he is a reliable figure in goal for Tottenham. For this, he earned an 8, a rating that reflected his solid performance and crucial contributions

Djed Spence has shown promise at times during the season, but this match was not one of his better performances. As a fullback, Spence tried to contribute to Tottenham’s attack by bombing forward and linking up with his teammates. However, every time he received the ball deep in his half, he struggled to make any significant progress. Whether it was a lack of support or simply poor decision-making, Spence found himself running into trouble whenever he tried to advance the ball.

While there were moments when Spence showed his attacking intent, his inability to get past opposition defenders and create anything meaningful resulted in an overall underwhelming display. Defensively, Spence was not particularly bad but didn’t contribute enough to make an impact on the game. His performance was not disastrous, but it certainly wasn’t enough to warrant a higher rating. A 5 was the most fitting score for his performance, as he showed effort but lacked the quality needed to influence the match

Kevin Danso had a somewhat forgettable game against AZ Alkmaar. He was not particularly poor, but he did make too many small mistakes that could have been costly. Although he didn’t directly make any catastrophic errors that led to goals, his overall performance was far from solid. Danso looked shaky at times and struggled with some of the pressure AZ Alkmaar applied. His passing was decent, and he did attempt to move forward with the ball at times, but these positive contributions were overshadowed by his mistakes.

In terms of positioning, Danso didn’t always look assured, and his inability to maintain consistent concentration was a concern. While he wasn’t the worst performer on the pitch, he certainly didn’t stand out as a positive influence in the game. His performance was decent in some aspects but inconsistent overall, earning him a rating of 4.5.

Archie Gray was one of the few Tottenham players who could hold his head high after this match. The young midfielder has been a reliable presence for Spurs in recent matches, and he continued to show his value against AZ Alkmaar. Gray was solid both defensively and offensively, providing crucial interventions and making key blocks throughout the game. He was one of the few Tottenham players who looked composed and assured on the ball.

Despite the overall struggles of his teammates, Gray didn’t let the pressure affect his performance. He showed maturity beyond his years, making smart tackles and playing with confidence. The midfield was an area where Tottenham struggled in this match, but Gray’s presence provided a sense of stability. For his composed and solid performance, he earned a 7.

Destiny Udogie, who has been one of Tottenham’s more dynamic players this season, had an extremely disappointing game against AZ Alkmaar. The fullback has become known for his runs down the left wing and his ability to link up with attacking players, but none of this was evident in this match. Udogie was virtually invisible throughout the game, offering little to no contribution in either attack or defense.

Normally, Udogie would look to push forward and get involved in Spurs’ offensive play, but in this match, he failed to make any impact. Whether it was due to a lack of confidence, poor decision-making, or AZ Alkmaar’s solid defense, Udogie simply didn’t get involved in the match. His performance was well below the standards expected of him, and he was one of the most disappointing players on the pitch. Given his lack of involvement and impact, he earned a low rating of 3.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s performance in this match was a major concern. Despite having an 8-day rest before the game, the Uruguayan midfielder looked sluggish and disinterested. Bentancur is usually known for his work rate and ability to control the tempo in midfield, but on this occasion, he appeared fatigued and well below his usual standard. His passing was sloppy, his positioning was poor, and he didn’t contribute much to the defensive or offensive efforts.

There were moments when Bentancur showed flashes of his usual quality, but these were few and far between. He didn’t battle hard enough in the midfield and was easily bypassed by AZ Alkmaar’s players. His overall performance was subpar, and it was clear that he wasn’t fully engaged in the game. For a player of Bentancur’s quality, this performance was a huge disappointment, and a rating of 2 was justified.

Lucas Bergvall had a mixed performance against AZ Alkmaar. The young player made a major mistake early in the match when he misjudged a clearance that deflected into his own net. This early error was a huge blow for Tottenham, and it could have set the tone for a difficult night. However, despite this unfortunate own goal, Bergvall responded well and showed determination for the rest of the game.

He worked hard and tried to make amends for his earlier mistake by making runs and showing good movement off the ball. His energy and attitude were commendable, and he was one of the few Spurs players who showed fight. Unfortunately, the own goal was always going to overshadow his efforts, but it was still clear that Bergvall tried to contribute positively to the team. Given his determination and work rate, he earned a rating of 6, though it could have been higher if not for the costly mistake.

James Maddison has been one of Tottenham’s key players this season, but his performance in this match was hugely disappointing. The English midfielder struggled to get involved in the game and was unable to create any meaningful chances for his teammates. Maddison is known for his ability to make incisive passes and create opportunities, but in this match, he failed to do so. He was largely anonymous in the first half and was substituted before the full-time whistle.

This was one of those games where Tottenham needed a leader to step up and make something happen, but Maddison failed to rise to the occasion. His passing was off, and he didn’t look sharp in attack. It was a poor performance by his standards, and he earned a low rating of 2.

Brennan Johnson’s performance was another one that failed to meet expectations. The Welsh winger is usually known for his pace and direct style of play, but on this occasion, his play was too predictable and easy to defend against. Johnson didn’t offer much threat going forward and was unable to create any meaningful chances. His play lacked variety, and he struggled to make any impact on the right wing.

Defensively, Johnson didn’t do enough to contribute either, and he was part of a Tottenham attack that was stifled by AZ Alkmaar. His performance was one of the most underwhelming, and he earned a rating of 2.5, reflecting his lack of contribution in the game.

Mathys Tel was another player who had a poor outing. The 19-year-old forward struggled to make any impact on the game, particularly in the first half. He failed to register a shot and seemed to slow down attacks when he was involved. His back-to-goal play was poor, and he didn’t link up well with his teammates. Tel was substituted at halftime as his performance showed little sign of improvement.

It was a disappointing performance from a young player who has shown potential in the past, but on this night, he was unable to make any meaningful contributions. He struggled to find any rhythm and didn’t look like a player capable of changing the course of the match. For his lackluster display, he earned a rating of 3.5

Heung-min Son, one of Tottenham’s most important players, had a night to forget. The South Korean forward was ineffective throughout the match, failing to make any impact in the first half. His shots were blocked, and he wasted several attacking opportunities. In the second half, Son was moved centrally, but this change didn’t have any positive effect. He became almost invisible during the match and struggled to make any contributions.

Son’s performance was far below his usual high standards, and he was one of the biggest disappointments of the night. His inability to get involved and make an impact was a major concern, and he earned a very low rating of 2.

Wilson Odobert (4): Wilson Odobert came on at halftime to replace Mathys Tel, but he struggled to make any significant impact on the game. His contributions were minimal, and he was unable to change the course of the match.

Pedro Porro (4):  Pedro Porro also came on during the second half but had little effect on the game. He did not manage to provide the spark that Tottenham desperately needed in attack.

Pape Sarr (5): Pape Sarr added some energy to the midfield after coming on, but he was unable to make any significant contributions. His presence was noted, but he didn’t do much with the ball.

Dominic Solanke (5.5): Solanke showed some promise during his brief appearance but was forced to leave the pitch early due to an injury. Despite his short time on the field, he looked sharp and was one of the few players who appeared ready to make a difference.

Dane Scarlett (N/A): Scarlett replaced Solanke but didn’t have enough time to make an impact, so he did not receive a rating

Tottenham Hotspur’s first-leg Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar was a disappointing performance across the board. Very few players were able to rise to the occasion, and the team struggled to create chances or defend effectively. Guglielmo Vicario stood out with a strong performance in goal, but the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Heung-min Son, and James Maddison all failed to make an impact. With the second leg still to come, Spurs will need to regroup and put in a much better performance if they hope to progress in the competition.