View: Tottenham Women squad gain valuable minutes ahead of WSL season while on international duty
Plenty of the Tottenham Women’s squad have been away on international duty with their respective nations throughout the past week.
The UEFA Women’s Nations League kicked off on Friday 22 September and numerous members of the Spurs Women’s squad took to the field to represent their respective countries in the competition.
As well as this, there was qualifying action for the likes of Rebecca Spencer and Drew Spence, while Grace Clinton and Jessica Naz were involved in England Under-23s’ 1-1 draw with Norway.
Striker Martha Thomas, who arrived at Tottenham from Manchester United during the summer, started Scotland’s 2-1 loss to England in League A Group 1 of the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Meanwhile, Luana Buhler, another summer arrival, was also on the losing side for her nation, as Switzerland fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Italy in League A Group 4.
Angharad James also tasted defeat with Wales, who lost 1-0 to Iceland in League A Group 3. However, there was victory for Olga Ahtinen and Eveliina Summanen, who both started Finland’s 4-0 win over Slovakia in League B Group 2.
Barbota Votikova, meanwhile, was an unused substitute for the Czech Republic during their 2-0 victory over Slovenia in League B Group 4. Away from the Nations League, Shelina Zadorsky came on as a substitute during Canada’s 2-0 Olympic Games qualifying win over Spencer and Spence’s Jamaica, a match which both players started.
Rosella Ayane was a second-half substitute for Morocco, who lost 2-0 to Zambia in a friendly, while Clinton and Naz both started for the Lionesses’ Under-23s side, who drew 1-1 with Celin Bizet’s Norway, with Asmita Ale an unused substitute for England.
It is safe to say that it has been a busy weekend for the Spurs ladies, who will soon be preparing for the return of the WSL and a trip to Stamford Bridge to face off with last season’s champions Chelsea on Sunday 1 October. While Robert Vilahamn might have preferred to keep his squad together and continue to prepare, especially so close to the fixture, the representation of the club at international level shows the quality within the squad.
The likes of Votikova, Thomas, Buhler, Ahtinen and Clinton all arrived in the summer, representing the wealth of talent that the club have added to their ranks. They will need all the help that they can get after such a disappointing campaign last time out, and Vilahamn will be hopeful that the summer business can help him get off to the best start as the WSL side’s manager.
A trip to Chelsea is arguably the most difficult fixture in the schedule, but what it does offer the squad is a chance to really make a name for themselves so early into the season.
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