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Tottenham begin another quest to end their 15-year trophy drought against Portsmouth in the FA Cup later today. While Antonio Conte’s long-term future is up for debate, what can be certain is that the Italian is a coach with a track-record of lifting silverware, albeit priorities probably lie elsewhere this season.
Clearly, there is a romance in the FA Cup and Spurs can hardly turn their nose up at the idea of winning a cup competition but there is a feeling that Champions League qualification is crucial to keeping both Conte and Harry Kane at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With that in mind, it will be fascinating to see just how seriously Conte takes it.
Today’s clash with an out-of-form League One side in Portsmouth looks favourable at least. Though not to discount a cup upset, Kane is closing in on Jimmy Greaves’ all-time record and will fancy his chances of reaching it. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog! Dan Kilpatrick will be providing expert analysis from the ground.
Live updates
Confirmed Portsmouth lineup
Confirmed Tottenham lineup
When is FA Cup draw? Start time, TV channel, live stream and ball numbers for fourth round
One of the signature weekends on the English football calendar is upon us as the FA Cup reaches the third-round stage.
The Premier League and Championship heavyweights enter the fray looking to crush the hopes of the lower and non-league teams that have made it this far as they eye a run to Wembley.
Manchester United got the round underway on Friday night with a convincing win over Everton.
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FA Cup underdogs: More chance of Cristiano Ronaldo retiring from football before end of 2023 than Portsmouth beating Spurs
Steven Gerrard to manage Liverpool this year and Donald Trump winning the 2024 US Presidential Election also more likely to happen than Pompey, Stevenage, Oxford and Gillingham triumphing this weekend
• Portsmouth are biggest underdogs this weekend at odds of 22/1 to beat Tottenham away from home according to latest odds via SafeBettingSites
Son: I can’t see the ball while wearing a mask but my parents are concerned
Tottenham’s Heung-min Son has revealed he loses sight of the ball while playing in a protective mask, but says he is still wearing it due to concern from his parents.
Son scored in just a second League game of the season as Spurs thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0 on Wednesday night, and he is expected to start again when Antonio Conte rings the changes for today’s FA Cup third-round visit of Portsmouth.
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Harry Kane ‘stalling on new Tottenham contract’
According to Football Insider, Harry Kane is no rush to extend his stay at Tottenham.
The England captain will be out of contract in 18 months and reportedly wants to wait to see how things progress before signing a contract extension.
Tottenham likely to keep Bryan Gil despite loan interest
Tottenham assistant manager Cristian Stellini has appeared to rule out an exit for Bryan Gil this month.
The 21-year-old has attracted loan interest from Spain after failing to convince in north London following a move from Sevilla in 2021.
Gil spent six months on loan at Valencia last year and the LaLiga giants were understood to have been keen on bringing him back for another temporary stint.
Still, the winger has been called upon in recent weeks due to injuries to both Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison.
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Antonio Conte’s assistant confident Tottenham boss wants ‘long’ stay at club amid contract wrangling
Antonio Conte‘s assistant, Cristian Stellini, has veered off script by insisting they are confident of staying at Tottenham for a “long time” and dismissing the importance of the head coach’s contract.
Conte has repeatedly refused to commit to Spurs beyond the end of his current deal, which expires at the end of the season, and has issued a series of threats to walk away from the club if he is not completely convinced by the board’s ambition and “vision” – including after the New Year’s Day defeat to Aston Villa.
But with Conte too upset to take Friday’s press conference following the death of his former Juventus and Italy teammate Gianluca Vialli, Stellini deputised and insisted they are confident of being at Spurs long-term.
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No FA Cup rest for Kane as Kulusevski and more aim to face Arsenal
Harry Kane and Heung-min Son will not be rested for Tottenham‘s FA Cup third-round tie against Portsmouth today, Spurs’ assistant coach Cristian Stellini has said.
Kane has started every game this season while Son has only been rested once when fit.
But with Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison both set to remain on the sidelines this weekend, Stellini says Spurs have no choice but to stick with the front three who started the 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace on Wednesday, also including Bryan Gil.
Asked about Kane’s chances of a rest, Stellini said: “It could be an opportunity to give him a rest but we don’t have many players and the choice is compulsory. So we have to choose the players we have in the front line.
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