ROBBIE KEANE rolled back the years as he scored an incredible lob for Spurs legends as Paul Gascoigne came off the bench to a standing ovation. The Irish hotshot was one of a raft of iconic stars playing at the new arena, including Jurgen Klinsmann, Rafael van der Vaart and Paul Gascoigne. And he latched […]
ROBBIE KEANE rolled back the years as he scored an incredible lob for Spurs legends as Paul Gascoigne came off the bench to a standing ovation.
The Irish hotshot was one of a raft of iconic stars playing at the new arena, including Jurgen Klinsmann, Rafael van der Vaart and Paul Gascoigne.
And he latched on to a long free-kick, beating the offside trap to put Spurs 2-1 up against ‘Inter Forever’.
It has felt like forever for their sparkling new arena to be completed, with 50,000 fans in attendance for the final test event ahead of the opening proper on Wednesday against Crystal Palace.
Gazza came off the bench after 55 minutes, while David Ginola came on too, 18 months after a heart attack left him dead for eight minutes.
Treble-winning boss Jose Mourinho was on the bench as assistant for Inter as Javier Zannetti, Juan Sebastian Veron, Laurent Blanc, Julio Cesar and Mikael Silvestre all starred.
While the club have been watching the pounds during the construction of their magnificent new fortress, these former stars have had varying degrees of success watching some pounds themselves.
Keane, Klinsmann and Inter’s Veron all look as lithe and athletic as their playing days.
Others have clearly been enjoying their retirement.
Teemu Tainio, who only ever scored three goals for Spurs, got the opener after hosting in at the far post after just seven minutes, before Keane’s lob.
S***, I miss it. It’s the same place, I am happy it is here. It means everything to the players. You have a great team and you will something soon.
Rafael van der Vaart
Inter bagged a wonderful equaliser through neat work from Veron and evergreen icon Javier Zannetti, as Veron squared it to David Suazo.
Suazo headed another, while Veron capitalised on Erik Thorstvedt’s butter fingers to make it 3-3 at half time.
When interviewed at half time, Klinsmann said: “The speed is not three anymore. I’m really honoured and happy to be here today.
“It is such a special day to get this new stadium going. And hopefully it takes Spurs into a future with a lot of trophies.
“Spurs is a very special place, even it is 25 years when I came here for the first time.
“The way people, the club, my teammates and the staff welcomed me is something I will never ever forget and always appreciated.”
Van der Vaart said: :It’s amazing, it’s nice to be back to see everybody, it’s such a good feeling to come home.
“S***, I miss it. It’s the same place, I am happy it is here. It means everything to the players. You have a great team and you will something soon.”
The last time Gazza played in a Spurs shirt, he ruptured his cruciate knee ligaments at Wembley having already signed terms with Lazio and Terry Venables remarked: “It’s like watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in your new car.”
