Recent Opta stats have indicated Tottenham Hotspur have the best defence this season across the five major leagues in Europe, helped by the partnership of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. However, the Belgian media are concerned the two Belgian defenders aren’t being paired together on a regular basis for the Red Devils.
Voetbal Nieuws have reported on Tottenham’s defence being the ranked the best in Europe, and therefore have questioned why Vertonghen and Alderweireld aren’t paired together for Belgium more frequently. The two players know each very well after attending the same Belgian academy before both heading to Ajax, and now Tottenham.
Voetbal Nieuws point out the Belgium national side doesn’t have fullbacks, unlike Tottenham who have Danny Rose and Kyle Walker, and as a result Vertonghen or Alderweireld have had to play fullback due to a lack of options in these positions.
The two Belgians have also played there in the past to accommodate the likes of Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Lombaerts.
However, with injury problems with Kompany continuing and Lombarets’ loss of form, going forward the two Tottenham defenders should get more opportunities to play alongside each other for their country… which seems the logical progression.
That would then place further doubt on Kompany’s future at international level. Returning to play his first game under Roberto Martinez, Kompany was withdrawn during the warm-up, and has since been replaced in Belgium’s squad. As long as Belgium can find a reasonable fullback solution, the country are likely better placed by moving on with the Tottenham pair in the middle.
