Yahoo Sports Hearts vs Tottenham tips, predictions, confirmed team news and predicted XIs
Hearts and Tottenham Hotspur take each other in a pre-season friendly in Tynecastle, Edinburgh on Wednesday at 7pm (UK time).
These two sides will always be linked by the storied career of former Scotland international Dave Mackay, who was a hugely popular player for both clubs. This friendly comes as a part of the Scottish side’s 150-year anniversary celebrations.
The teams last faced each other in the 2011/12 Europa League play-off round with Tottenham winning the first leg 5-0 in Edinburgh thanks to goals from Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe, Rafael van der Vaart, Aaron Lennon and Jake Livermore. The Lilywhites eased through the tie a week later with a goalless draw in north London.
Hearts will be hoping for a much more competitive performance as they aim to get ready for the start of the Scottish Premiership opener at home to Rangers on 3rd August.
Tottenham have a longer wait until they resume competitive action as their Premier League opener is a trip to Leicester on 19th August.
Hearts vs Tottenham prediction and tips
Results are never the most important aspect of pre-season friendlies but Hearts will be hoping to at least avoid a heavy defeat against Tottenham, who were 5-0 winners on their last trip to Tynecastle. Steven Naismith’s side finished a creditable third in the Scottish Premiership last season, earning themselves a place in the Europa League play-off round. Their next challenge is to try and have a decent run in Europe and attempt to climb a bit closer to Celtic and Rangers, who were 25 and 17 points superior last season.
Tottenham will also be aiming for success on both continental and domestic fronts. Ange Postecoglou’s side have qualified for the revamped Europa League league phase and would hope to improve on last season’s fifth-placed finish in the Premier League.
With pre-season friendlies it’s tough to call what’s going to happen. Results often depend on player availability especially at this early stage. But you can often guarantee that their will be goals. Tottenham were fairly leaky in the Premier League last season, conceding in 31 of their 38 games, and that will likely count against them with a team playing more for fitness than results.
However, Tottenham should still have too much to beat their Scottish opponents, who lost 2-1 to League One side Leyton Orient at the weekend.
Hearts vs Tottenham team news
Hearts will be missing several key players including Scotland duo Lawrence Shankland and Zander Clark, and Costa Rican pair Gerald Taylor and Kenneth Vargas, who continue to be excused due to their recent international commitments.
Jambos’ manager Naismith will also be without injured quartet Beni Baningime, Stephen Kingsley, Finlay Pollock and Calem Nieuwenhof and midfielder Alex Cochrane, who is reportedly on the brink of a transfer to Birmingham. Left-back James Penrice has been managing a hip issue and might not be risked.
Tottenham must cope without a bunch of high-profile absentees. Copa America winners Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso will be given time off after their exploits with the Argentina national team. Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are also enjoying extra time off after being part of squads at Euro 2024.
Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur featured heavily for his nation at the Copa America, Fraser Forster (ankle), Ben Davies (calf) and Destiny Udogie (thigh) are injured, while Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon are not part of Postecoglou’s plans and will therefore be overlooked.
Hearts (4-4-2): Gordon; Oyegoke, Halkett, Kent, Rowles; Spittal, Tait, Denholm, McKay; Forrest, Tagawa.
