View: South American Tottenham stars experience contrasting fate on international duty
Plenty of Tottenham stars are currently dotted across the globe representing their nations in various qualifiers and friendly fixtures.
Given the quality of Spurs’ squad coupled with their wonderful start to the season, it is no surprise that many of their first-team players have been selected for international duty, including a first call-up to the senior Italy squad for Destiny Udogie.
Two ever-presents in Ange Postecoglou’s side this season, Cristian Romero and Richarlison, were in action across the Atlantic in South America on Thursday 12 October, and the pair experienced very contrasting nights.
Romero has started the last five games for an Argentina side who have won all seven of their fixtures since lifting the World Cup last December. The 25-year-old is arguably his country’s best defender and had another comfortable evening as he helped his nation keep a clean sheet during a 1-0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying win against Paraguay.
His side saw 75 per cent of the ball and had 15 shots compared to Paraguay’s four, and Romero himself also boasted some impressive numbers throughout.
While Tottenham’s vice-captain had little to do defensively, making just one interception while winning two of his four ground duels and four of his five aerial duels, he did show his usual composure on the ball, registering 107 touches while completing 93 per cent of his passes (95/102) (Sofascore).
Meanwhile, 2,000 kilometres north of where Romero was playing, his club teammate Richarlison was not experiencing the same joy at the Arena Pantanal in Brazil.
Spurs’ number nine hasn’t had the greatest of starts to the season at club level, scoring just twice in nine games in all competitions, yet his international boss Fernando Diniz continues to stick by him and select him ahead of Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus.
Unfortunately, on Thursday night, the 26-year-old did not repay his manager’s faith, failing to score once again as Brazil drew 1-1 with Venezuela in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Richarlison had another evening to forget, failing to register a shot at goal and making just 15 touches. In addition to this, he won just one of his four ground duels, gave the ball away six times and picked up a booking before being hooked off on the hour mark (Sofascore).
Despite being offered chance after chance Richarlison is failing to capitalise and it will leave Tottenham fans wondering just how much patience Postecoglou has left when it comes to the Brazillian.
In other Tottenham news, one Spurs star has been compared with Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard.