View: Bentancur shines as three Tottenham stars on display in Argentina and Uruguay clash
Tottenham duo Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso were part of the Argentina side beaten 2-0 by Uruguay on Thursday 16 November, as the victors saw Rodrigo Bentancur return to the fold.
Teammates turned foes as Romero and Lo Celso lined up opposite Bentancur for Argentina and Uruguay’s World Cup Qualifying match on Thursday night, which saw the World champions taste defeat for the first time in 15 matches.
Romero was the only Spurs player to start the match, although all three ended the game on the pitch as Bentancur made his first appearance for Uruguay since his ACL injury in February, coming off the bench in the 62nd minute.
Many Spurs supporters will be anxiously waiting for all of their players to return to Hotspur Way unscathed considering the injury crisis which is currently engulfing the club, and the idea of Bentancur being involved in a match such as this one might have made a few fans sweat.
However, getting minutes back into his legs can only be a good thing, even if it brings with it a risk of injury.
There are few games more difficult to make your international return in after a long-term layoff than a fiery showdown with Argentina, and while he didn’t do much, he went about his work well.
As per Sofascore, the midfielder completed 91 per cent of his passes, won one of his three ground duels, and made two clearances, two interceptions and one tackle, in a solid display as he looks to once again build up his confidence with the view of making an impact when he returns to Tottenham.
As for Romero, while he did find himself on the losing side, it is hard to place too much blame on the 25-year-old who earned a 7.0 match rating, the joint-second highest of any Argentina player on the pitch, and highest among the back four.
The defender made two clearances, two interceptions and four tackles, picking up a booking as he once again found himself at the centre of the action. In addition, he won four of his seven ground duels and three of his five aerial duels.
He was his usual composed self on the ball, completing 89 per cent of his passes with one of those being key, but will be left frustrated with himself after missing a big chance.
Lo Celso was introduced in the 80th minute and had little time on the pitch to impact proceedings, completing 88 per cent of his passes.
What Tottenham fans will be most pleased to know is that all three of the players came through the match with no fresh injury concerns, with a matter of staying fit rather than performing well during the international break the main concern for Tottenham’s stars at this moment in time.
In other Tottenham news, the stats suggest that Bentancur must be handed the creative keys at Spurs in the absence of James Maddison.