£200,000-a-week trio benched as Romero and Solanke decisions made – AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham Predicted XIs

AZ Alkmaar and Tottenham Hotspur are set to clash in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday evening at the AFAS Stadion, with both teams eager to take a step closer to the quarter-finals. The Dutch side arrives at this stage after a thrilling 6-3 aggregate victory over Galatasaray, while Spurs, having secured a top-eight finish in the league phase, bypassed the previous round.
AZ Alkmaar’s Recent Form and Injury Woes
AZ comes into this fixture on the back of a disappointing 3-1 Eredivisie defeat away to Heerenveen, a result that disrupted their momentum. Head coach Maarten Martens now faces the challenge of dealing with multiple injury concerns ahead of the crucial European encounter.
Key forward Ruben van Bommel is doubtful, while young attacker Mexx Meerdink and goalkeeper Sem Westerveld are also facing a race against time to be fit. Meanwhile, Jayden Addai and Sven Mijnans have been ruled out entirely, limiting Martens’ options in midfield and attack. However, one player who could step up is former Spurs striker Troy Parrott, who is expected to lead the line against his former club.
Martens Provides Injury Update
During his pre-match press conference, Martens offered insights into his squad’s condition.
“They are ready. Mexx Meerdink is back on the field, but this match comes a bit too soon for him. Mees de Wit is back as well after recovering from illness. We are gradually regaining more players, but we are still waiting on a few. Sven Mijnans will be out longer, and both Ruben van Bommel and Jayden Addai still need time to return. This gives other players another opportunity to prove themselves, as they have done before.”
AZ Alkmaar Predicted Lineup and Squad

Predicted XI: Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Koopmeiners, Clasie; Poku, Buurmeester, Lahdo; Parrott.

Substitutes: Verhulst (GK), Dijkstra (DEF), Martins-Indi (DEF), Dekker (DEF), Kasius (DEF), De Wit (DEF), Smit (MID), Belic (MID), Van Duijn (FWD), Addai (FWD), Daal (FWD), Sadiq (FWD).

Tottenham’s Squad Selection Headaches
For Tottenham, the break from domestic action should have been an opportunity to recover some key players, but Ange Postecoglou’s squad continues to be plagued by injuries. The latest setback involves Dejan Kulusevski, who has been ruled out until after the international break due to a foot injury sustained in training.
Adding to Postecoglou’s concerns, Richarlison and Radu Dragusin remain sidelined, while Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies, and Dominic Solanke are all doubts for the trip to the Netherlands. Furthermore, Timo Werner, Antonin Kinsky, Fraser Forster, and Sergio Reguilón are ineligible for the fixture, leaving Spurs with limited options.
Postecoglou Shares Injury Updates
Speaking to the media, Postecoglou provided an update on Kulusevski’s injury and the status of other players.
“Deki [Kulusevski] is the only one who hasn’t traveled. He’s had a knock on his foot, but he’s not sure exactly when it happened. It’s been sore for the last couple of weeks, but he was able to train and play through it. However, it wasn’t improving, so we did further checks. There’s no definitive clarity yet, but he won’t be back before the international break. It’s nothing serious or surgical, but he’s unavailable for this one.”
On Micky van de Ven’s condition, the Spurs boss added:
“He’s training, and we’re being cautious this time. The last time he returned, he played half a game (against Elfsborg) but still didn’t feel quite right. This time, we’ve taken a different approach. He feels really good, has been training consistently for over a week, and is in a good space. It’s now about timing when we bring him back into the squad.”
Tottenham’s Predicted Lineup and Squad

Predicted XI: Vicario; Porro, Gray, Danso, Spence; Bentancur, Bergvall; Johnson, Maddison, Son; Tel.

Substitutes: Austin (GK), Romero (DEF), Van de Ven (DEF), Udogie (DEF), Sarr (MID), Bissouma (MID), Odobert (FWD), Scarlett (FWD), Moore (FWD), Solanke (FWD).

With several first-team players either injured or ineligible, Postecoglou faces a tricky selection dilemma. James Maddison is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup, particularly with Kulusevski sidelined. Meanwhile, the £200,000-a-week trio of Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, and Destiny Udogie may have to settle for a place on the bench as the manager looks to balance his squad.
This clash promises to be a fascinating tactical battle, with AZ aiming to build on their impressive European campaign and Tottenham looking to bounce back from their recent defeat against Manchester City. Both sides will have to navigate injury concerns, but with a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals on the line, neither can afford to hold back.