Tottenham Hotspur's last visit to Switzerland was not one which may conjure particularly fond memories in those linked to the North London club. BSC Young Boys raced right into a 3-0 first-half cause in the two club's 2010-11 Champions League playoff as Spurs' goals of qualifying for your competitors proper threatened to unravel. Harry Redknapp's side pulled two straight back before easily whipping Young Boys at home to progress to the party stage, but that first-leg knowledge was an indication of the challenges that come with any trip to the nation. Tottenham's latest Swiss adventure sees them take on Hamilton Academical Basel in the second leg of their Europa League quarterfinal, understanding an equally hard night's work lies ahead. Having currently played out a 2-2 draw with the current Swiss Super League table-toppers, Spurs do not go to the game as unfamiliar with the job accessible as they did with Young Boys. And on occasion even their current competitors, having already been caught out by the intensity with that they were attacked by the guests at White Hart Lane a week ago. Unlike the aforementioned fit this season, the Premier League club could not cite a playing area of as an defense (and even then, a poor one) synthetic turf. Basel were just that keen, and Andre Villas-Boas and his players just that ill-prepared. Valentin Stocker won against Tottenham in the first-leg and was one of several brilliant entertainers for Basel.Paul Gilham/Getty Pictures At their St. Jakob-Park surface, there is every reason to believe Murat Yakin's staff will soon be equally ready for the occasion. They know something significantly less than a win or even a 3-3 draw (the very first potential scoreline that may see them through on absent objectives) for Tottenham may see them quit the Europa League, giving the Swiss one of the more significant scalps in their history. House is really a happy place for Basel too, with them having lost only once there all seasona'back in August, to CFR Cluj in the Champions League. Eyes may once again be on first-leg standouts like Mohamad Salah and Valentin Stocker, although Yakin has Marcelo Diaz and Park Joo-Ho to call upon again, along with possibly Philipp Degen. Andre Villas-Boas will be considering his next move in his attempts to ensure his team's season does not fall beneath the weight of expectation. Discouraging although elements of Spurs' last two performances have been, the determination they have shown in returning from two- and one-goal deficits (the latter against Everton) has been extensive. Having lived to fight another day on the remaining two methodologies, Villas-Boas will certainly be looking to find a method to get activities to the weight, in place of having conditions dictated to them all over again. Basel are a reasonable test in the information Thursday's game in fact is all or nothing for the Europa League. Spurs cannot pin their hopes on the get back of injured stars Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale here; the responsibility to attack well certainly rests on other people who haven't shone as glaringly this season. In the absence of Gareth Bale, Emmanuel Adebayor can one of many Tottenham participants necessary to step-up in his absence.Paul Gilham/Getty Images Emmanuel Adebayor may once again lead the line upfront. Down the back of a bright screen against Everton, hopes will soon be on the striker to create the tone for his side. The choice of personnel behind him in midfield is possibly the same as from the Toffees, though either Tom Huddlestone or Tom Carroll may be contacted off the rear of good, innovative cameos in Sunday's pull. William Gallas is injured, although Villas-Boas may eventually have been persuaded to drop him for Europe anyway, off the trunk of two poor showings. However, the combination the Spurs defense will actually be made up of is getting as hard to predict as lottery numbers lately. Although perhaps too quickly for this sport, a welcome return was made by centre-back Younes Kaboul to action on Monday in the Tottenham Under-21s 1-1 draw with West Ham United. Unlike Basel (who perform FC Zurich), Tottenham could focus their efforts fully on the Europa League without group sport following this weekend. Their planned fitting against Chelsea has been detained consequently of the Blues' FA Cup semifinal on Sunday. No justification then for a significantly less than fully-committed performance from Spurs? We shall see.
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