Bergvall sub, Richarlison decision - Ange Postecoglou's strongest Tottenham team vs Vissel Kobe
Here we take a look at Ange Postecoglou's strongest Tottenham team for Saturday's pre-season friendly match against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, Japan
Tottenham's first game of their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea comes on Saturday when they face Vissel Kobe in Tokyo. Arriving in Japan earlier this week, Ange Postecoglou's men take on the reigning J.League champions at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
The Lilywhites have already started off their summer friendlies in fine form, firstly registering a 5-1 win away at Hearts before defeating Championship side QPR 2-0 last weekend. Saturday's match against Vissel Kobe will certainly be a test for Tottenham as the Japanese club are already more than halfway through their league season.
An opportunity for Tottenham players to step up their fitness with the new Premier League campaign edging ever closer, Postecoglou could possibly decide to give his players more than the 45 minutes they have received in each game so far. Spurs do have a total of 31 players as part of their pre-season tour, with Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie and Richarlison all included again after not featuring at either Hearts or QPR.
The team's first two games have been worthwhile exercises and Postecoglou will have taken an awful lot from both. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have been huge positives after impressing in the side so soon after their transfers to the club, with young players such as Alfie Devine, Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear really taking their opportunities with both hands.
Postecoglou has certainly gone strong in both games so far as he has started a number of first-team regulars from the first whistle. It could very much be the same once again on Saturday when Tottenham play Vissel Kobe.
So what exactly is Tottenham's strongest XI for the match at Tokyo's National Stadium? football.london takes a look below.
Guglielmo Vicario
Guglielmo Vicario is now back with the Tottenham squad once again following his summer break at the end of Italy's Euro 2024 campaign. As he was absent for the Hearts and QPR games, the club's new No.1 should come straight into the team to face Vissel Kobe.
(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)1 of 11Pedro Porro
Pedro Porro will be in the driving seat to start at right-back after doing so in both of Tottenham's pre-season games this summer. Djed Spence will likely replace him in the second half and try to make a big impression in his playing time.
(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)2 of 11Archie Gray
You would imagine Archie Gray continues at centre-back with Tottenham still short on options at the heart of defence at present. It may not be his best position but his time at centre-back will only help his game.
3 of 11Oliver Skipp
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Oliver Skipp may continue at centre-back unless Ange Postecoglou wants to start Ben Davies there after missing Tottenham's opening two summer friendlies.
4 of 11Ben Davies
![Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 28, 2024 in London, England.]()
It remains to be seen where exactly Destiny Udogie is in terms of his fitness after undergoing surgery towards the end of last season. As Ben Davies has made the trip to Asia and can be seen in Tottenham's recent training ground images and footage, the Welshman could possibly get some minutes in the tank on Saturday against Vissel Kobe.
(Image: (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images))5 of 11
