Tottenham Starting XI vs Eintracht Frankfurt: Confirmed team news and predicted lineup | OneFootball

Tottenham face tough calls as Frankfurt clash looms without Son

Son absence reshapes attacking dynamics

As Tottenham prepare to walk into the noise and steel of Deutsche Bank Park, their rhythm already feels unsettled. The absence of Heung-min Son, who hasn’t travelled due to a persistent foot issue, shifts the axis of Spurs’ attack ahead of tonight’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.

It is not just the goals that will be missed—though those, naturally, are vital—but the gravity Son exerts on defenders. In a tie balanced at 1-1 following the first leg in north London, his omission feels seismic. For Ange Postecoglou, under growing scrutiny after Sunday’s 4-2 Premier League defeat at Wolves, this selection challenge arrives at a delicate juncture.

Dejan Kulusevski could step in. Having played the final quarter-hour at Molineux, his sharpness will be tested if he’s thrust into a starting role. Wilson Odobert, who did not feature at the weekend as part of a managed workload, has travelled. There is also Mathys Tel, whose impact on Sunday—goal included—made his case.

Postecoglou’s choices are layered. Should Kulusevski move to the right, Brennan Johnson or Odobert could shift left. Alternatively, Tel might reprise his recent role out wide. None are like-for-like replacements for Son. But all offer something—energy, flair, pace—if not the same gravitational pull.

Defensive reshuffle brings Van de Ven boost

If the frontline feels like a puzzle missing its biggest piece, the defensive structure at least promises some clarity. Micky van de Ven, rested at Wolves, is expected to return alongside Cristian Romero. The pair have become Tottenham’s most assured partnership at centre-back, blending steel with tempo.

Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro, also spared involvement last weekend, are likely to reclaim their full-back spots. Djed Spence has impressed recently, but momentum and continuity favour the rested duo.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall, both given a breather at Molineux, will also come back into the midfield fold, joined by James Maddison, who remains central to Tottenham’s creative pulse.

Photo: IMAGO

Squad depth tested by availability constraints

Beyond the obvious headline—Son’s absence—there are further complications. Kevin Danso is back in the squad following a hamstring problem and has travelled to Germany. But Radu Dragusin remains sidelined with a knee injury. Sergio Reguilon, Fraser Forster, Antonin Kinsky and Timo Werner are all ineligible.

The thinness of options could place extra emphasis on Tottenham’s bench, which may lack firepower but offers tactical flexibility. In a tie that could easily stretch into extra time, such nuances may prove pivotal.

Postecoglou under pressure in decisive night

This is a moment Postecoglou was hired for—not just the match itself, but the atmosphere around it. A pivotal European night with tension, expectation, and now adversity.

His style, bold and progressive, has won plaudits. But results will always carry louder echoes, particularly when a semi-final place is at stake. With rotation complete and choices made, the time for conjecture is over.

The blueprint is clear, the margins fine. But without Son, everything becomes a little harder to control.

Predicted Tottenham XI (4-3-3):

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Bergvall, Maddison; Tel, Solanke, Kulusevski