Tottenham Hotspur

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on what Tottenham need to do in Norway tonight to make the Europa League final.

Here are some of your comments:

George: We could play defensively, like we did against Frankfurt, but I don't think there's anything stopping us trying to get a goal or two. We could finish the game before half-time if we scored once or twice.

Daz: Park the bus, hit on the break, play 4-3-2-1.

Paul: Two very organised rows of four to make it difficult for Bodo to get down the flanks. But that would mean Ange Postecoglou changing the system, which I can't see him doing. It could go either way, but I hope we make it to the final.

Andy: Bodo are going to play lots of quick pass-and-move football on that pitch so we have to match them with the same kind of football. We can't afford to dither on the ball and we have to make sure passes don't go astray. We also need our most skilfull players available, which means using the likes of Mikey Moore, Djed Spence, and Wilson Odobert to dribble, exploit gaps and opportunities. With Micky van De Ven helping out in attack with his skills, and a clever Dejan Kulusevski playing the central role, we should win the tie. It all rests on Ange getting the starting line-up right (which he usually doesn't!).

Aaron: Ideally, I would like us to play a 4-2-3-1 shape as the pitch is not ideal for our regular possession-based game and we seem to have been more successful this season playing on the counter. The full-backs stay traditional, tucking in if necessary with our wingers dropping in to be compact but also keep a threat on transition. The two defensive midfielders can shield the backline, being aggressive when the ball is played centrally. The emphasis is on Bodo to score, so we should be able to lure them in and hit them on the break. Pedro Porro's passing range will be crucial as well as Solanke's work-rate off the ball.

Steve: Why play the same 4-3-3 attacking way we always do? I would play 4-4-2, a back four of Djed Spence, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies, with Porro and Destiny Udogie in front of the full-backs, Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma in the middle and Dominic Solanke and Richarlison up front. Staying compact and going long!

Get involved!

If you are in Norway, send us your pictures

Image source, Getty Images

Bodo/Glimt Supporters Club chairman Thomas Solberg says his team "have the ability to play Tottenham out of the tournament" in tonight's Europa League semi-final.

Spurs, who travel to Norway having won the first leg 3-1, are favourites to make the final but Solberg warns Bodo could cause an upset.

"It's the biggest day for Bodo/Glimt in its history," Solberg said. "It should be a day for the history books. We don't have expectation that high as we know we are facing a decent team. But with the weather and everything, [it] could turn out to be a great day.

"I say we don't have any expectation, we have some, but that goal gave us some belief. I hope [Spurs] think they are in the final. I don't think they know what they are facing.

"The artificial surface, the weather - it's going to rain - I think they are going to experience something else.

"Everybody speaks about the surface, the weather, everything. That's all excuses. Bodo/Glimt have the ability to play Tottenham out of the tournament.

"If Tottenham give us the spaces, they are going to get hammered."

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

With Tottenham playing at Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final, the noise around artificial pitches has been growing.

In the past, Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has called the surfaces "dangerous" and former Spurs manager Jose Mourinho blamed the pitch for an injury to his defender Gianluca Mancini when his then-Roma side lost in a Conference League game in 2022.

For his part, Bodo defender Odin Bjortuft believes the pitch will help his side as they try and overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit.

"There's no doubt it is an advantage for us," said Bjortuft. "We train on this pitch every day. I don't think a lot of teams are prepared for what's coming.

"It's a big difference between artificial and grass in many ways but the main one is that the ball goes so fast."

Artificial pitches tend to be harder than real grass, which can increase the risk of injury to players as turning is made harder on the knees and ankles because of the tougher ground and falls can lead to heavier, more damaging impacts.

These pitches are common in Northern Europe, where cold temperatures mean maintaining true grass surfaces to a high enough standard is very difficult.

They have been banned in the professional game in England since 1998, though there are more than 5,000 across the UK at amateur level.

Despite the criticism from those playing and managing on the surfaces, research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, external concluded there was no evidence of a greater risk of injury on artificial turf when compared with natural grass.

However, performance issues are not the only concern plastic pitches bring. Artificial surfaces are also considered a significant negative for the environment.

Read more here

Tottenham are well placed to make it through to the Europa League final in Bilbao on 21 May but they still need to make sure the job is done on Thursday night against Bodo/Glimt.

How do they achieve that?

What do Spurs need to do to get it over the line?

And have you travelled to watch them in the Arctic Circle? Send us your pictures too!

Get involved here

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bodo/Glimt record scorer Stig Johansen believes Tottenham are in for a shock in their Europa League semi-final second leg.

Tottenham hold a 3-1 lead before Thursday's game in north Norway, 75 miles inside the Arctic Circle, as they look to reach the final in Bilbao.

Bodo beat Lazio in the quarter-finals, winning 2-0 at home, and have also beaten Twente, Porto and Braga in this season's competition.

Former Norway striker Johansen, who is one of Bodo's all-time top goalscorers and also had a brief spell at Southampton in 1997-98, expects the hosts and their plastic pitch to make life uncomfortable for Spurs.

"Tottenham are going to get a real surprise, I hope," he told BBC Sport in Norway.

"They will find it difficult. Tottenham may start well but they will struggle afterwards. Bodo/Glimt are very fit and if you don't get into the duels close - Tottenham players are stronger than us - on that pitch, I don't think they are going to catch up.

"Stay away from one to ones because physically Tottenham are stronger.

"We have to score very quickly, in the first 20, and then we go from there. What are Tottenham doing? Are they up to the challenge?

"It's fun to say - are Tottenham up to the challenge at Bodo/Glimt? But Bodo are so good at home. It will be a new world for the Tottenham players. We have seen a lot of teams come to Bodo and it seems they are playing in our division.

"Good luck to Tottenham."

Full commentary of Bodo/Glimt v Tottenham on BBC Radio 5 Live from 20:00 BST

Image source, Getty Images

With their 3-1 victory in the first leg, Tottenham made it five wins out of five against Norwegian opposition in major European competition.

This is the highest number of games Spurs have played against an opponent from a specific country while maintaining a 100 per cent win rate.

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg at Bodo/Glimt (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Tottenham lead 3-1 from the first leg.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Postecoglou said he is "disappointed" for James Maddison, who will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury collected in the first leg: "He has been a big part of the latter part of our season - a big catalyst for us. That has been a constant, dealing with [injuries] and overcoming them."

• On whether others might need to take on new roles given absences of squad leaders Maddison and Son Heung-min: "We've had good practice this season. I don't know how many captains we have had. It has been a challenge but it has also allowed some other guys - Pedro [Porro], [Rodrigo] Bentancur, [Yves] Bissouma, [Dom] Solanke to step up at different times."

• The Spurs boss confirmed Solanke was "ready to go" having been an injury doubt.

• On former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's comments that Europa League winners should not get a place in the Champions League: "It is the rules. Why was it not an issue before? Last year, fifth place didn't get you in - this year it does. Spurs does crazy things to people. You put this club into any sentence and they all come out to try and diminish any way they can. I have great respect for Arsene, one of the legends of the game, but it's Spurs. They love it, you love it. Bring it on."

• On whether winning the Europa League might change perceptions of Tottenham: "I don't know. Some of it would become redundant for sure. A bit part of the narrative is that we haven't won for a very long time. Some will still exist beyond that. From my perspective, creating a winning culture starts with winning."

• He is encouraged by how well Tottenham have acquitted themselves in Europe already this season: "We will approach this game in the same way we have the rest of the competition. Away from home, we have been really disciplined. The lads have done well and in second legs, whatever we have needed, we have done it."

• He dismissed specific problems potentially posed by Bodo's artificial pitch: "It's obviously different but we'll train on it today. Whether it's the pitch, the atmosphere, the conditions, there is always something you need to overcome. We'll do that tomorrow."

• He praised the resilience shown by his players this season: "It is a really important commodity. Anyone who has success in whatever field has had to show it at some point. I am very proud of the lads that through adversity they have never splintered or wavered in their belief of what we are trying to do."

• More on sticking together: "I think that helps in games like tomorrow. They can tap into the way they have dealt with every stumble and challenge faced this year and find the strength they need to get the job done."

Full commentary of Bodo/Glimt v Tottenham Hotspur from 20:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, PA Media

Guglielmo Vicario is "not impressed" by the artificial pitch facing Tottenham at Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night but says it is "not an excuse".

Spurs go into their Europa League semi-final second leg with a 3-1 advantage but know their Norwegian hosts have an outstanding record on home territory, winning 30 of their 36 games in continental competition.

"We knew about it before coming in," Vicario said. "Many teams have played here so nothing has worried us about the surface.

"You cannot change the condition of the pitch - it is just about how quickly you adapt. I don't have a lot of experience on [artificial surfaces] but it's fine. We will be ready."

The Tottenham goalkeeper emphasised Spurs will not be content to sit on their two-goal lead but will instead attempt to make sure of progress to the final by winning the game outright.

"We need to focus on our strengths and try to win the game," he said. "We cannot sit back and hope for mistakes. We have to attack and play our way.

"We are really committed to what we have to do and know our way of football. We have to play with a high tempo and high intensity like in the first leg.

"Then we will see."

Image source, Getty Images

Bodo/Glimt defender Odin Bjortuft believes his side have a "big advantage" playing at home on their artificial pitch in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Tottenham.

Spurs have played on a 4G surface this season, against non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup third round in January.

The players seemingly struggled to adapt to the pitch as they narrowly avoided a huge upset with the game goalless after 90 minutes - however, they did progress with a 3-0 win after extra time.

Bjortuft said: "There's no doubt it is an advantage for us.

"At the same time, it's what you're used to. We train on this pitch every day. The same with the team we meet, they train on grass pitches every day.

"But, of course, playing here at home is a big advantage for us, because I don't think a lot of teams are prepared for what's coming.

"The ball goes really fast when you play passes and it's more difficult for defenders reaching attackers and getting contact with us. That's what we benefit from in these games.

"It's a smaller stadium than they are used to. It's really compact and it's a city that stays together. We are really comfortable playing here, as many home teams are.

"I think we have a good backing from the town and they are really positive, even if it goes south. It's a good feeling for us to have them on our back."

BBC Sport Ask Me Anything: Why are artificial pitches unpopular?

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison is a doubt for the start of pre-season with a serious knee injury suffered against Bodo/Glimt last week.

BBC Sport reported on Monday that Maddison was almost certain to miss the final weeks of the season - that will include a Europa League final if they avoid defeat at Bodo/Glimt on Thursday - as Spurs determined the full extent of the injury.

And it is understood Maddison's recovery time is expected to take up to three months, which leaves the attacker battling to be fit for the start of Spurs' preparations for the 2025-26 campaign.

Positively, Maddison does not require surgery to repair his injured knee and if all goes according to plan with his rehabilitation, the 28-year-old will be fit for the start of next season.

It is a major blow to Maddison, who has suffered suspected ligament damage, and Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou as Spurs enter the crucial climax to their campaign.

We asked for your views on what might be going under the radar at Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Kevin: Youth! We have a lot of exciting youngsters on loan and coming through the youth set-up. They mainly appear to be attacking players (Adewole, Lehane, Williams-Barnet, Donley, Moore), though notably Josh Keeley has kept 14 clean sheets for Leyton Orient this year. Let's give them an opportunity in the final few dead rubbers and in pre-season, and at the same time shift out some of those so-called senior professionals that aren't performing.

Mark: The lack of game time for Mikey Moore is an issue. Postecoglou hasn't got the faintest idea what his best team is and has tried Johnson, Son, Tel, Richarlison, Odebert and Werner wide left, but seems to have forgotten the promise Moore has shown there. If Postecoglou is going to show such complete disregard for the league, surely playing our best youngster would make the most sense - especially over Tel, who is on loan and unlikely to be bought.

Tom: Just how bad Romero has been this season. Yes, he's been injured a lot but he has been nothing short of woeful in most games, even prior to his injury. He's looked nothing like a World Cup winner. He's been positionally terrible and his decision making continues to leave a lot to be desired - watch the Newcastle game before he gets injured, it's dire. It's no wonder Van de Ven got injured when he was having to cover more ground with his partner never where he should be. Banking on either Madrid club buying him in summer, and bringing in Marc Guehi would be ideal.

Mike: Daniel Levy should put his hand in his pocket, not clap them together for NFL matches and Beyonce concerts, and buy some decent players as he will need them if we, by some miracle, win the Europa League and play in the Champions League next season. We wouldn't want to be embarrassed by making an early exit from it. This might ruin the good reputation that we haven't got since Mr Pochettino was dispensed with.

Anff: Levy and ENIC are the problems. Until recently, I was a staunch defender of them, largely for rescuing us from the dire drudge of the late 90s thanks in no small part to Sugar. But now I have to agree they are only interested in Tottenham the product and not the Tottenham the football club with its rich and proud history. If you can't or won't back your ever-growing list of managers then it's time to sell up and get out before you sully your reputation and all that you have actually achieved for us. He says he's a fan of Spurs, well prove it and go please.

Robert: While it would be great to finally win a proper trophy I can see no point in qualifying for the Champions League while Levy is in charge of the finances. We've seen how thin the squad is and we know he won't invest (not transfer fees) and pay proper wages for proper players.

Ange Postecoglou is still very much under the microscope, especially after a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers West Ham on Sunday which left his side stuck in 16th place in the Premier League.

However, Spurs take a 3-1 lead to Bodo/Glimt for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday, with the winners of that tournament qualifying for next season's Champions League.

So we know what has been being talked about. But you know your club best, so we want you to give us a peek behind the scenes and tell us one thing no-one is talking about at Tottenham, but really should be.

Let us know here

Ali Speechly
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

As Ange Postecoglou justifiably rotated his squad against West Ham on Sunday, it occurred to me: isn't it a relief to finally have even the semblance of strength in depth?

Obviously, the Premier League table is not really worth a glance for Spurs fans this close to the finish line of such a bleak domestic season. Everyone's focus – manager, players and fans alike – is on the Europa League. And rightly so.

However, there are still domestic league games left to play and, even if the results seem inconsequential in this campaign, it is better to make a good account of yourself than completely capitulate.

This means the overall squad is more important now than ever. After such an injury-ravaged season - including months without a bench made up of more than teenagers - could it be that everything is coming together just in time for European glory?

While James Maddison's injury is disappointing, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr are more than adequate replacements. Maddison had a great game on Thursday night, but has been inconsistent for large parts of this season, so I am hopeful his absence will not prove too costly.

The more significant loss – and someone who, should we get there, deserved to play in the Europa League final – is Lucas Bergvall. His injury feels ironic and inevitable. This is what happens when a teenager has to play more games than anticipated because he is covering for other injured players.

So clearly there is still a lot of work to be done in building a squad that is strong enough to challenge consistently in multiple competitions.

However, given we have somehow managed to get to the brink of a European final this season, it feels comforting that there are finally stronger options available.

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes there is no reason why former Spurs captain would rule out finishing his career in north London, especially now he has got his hands on his first - long awaited - major trophy with Bayern Munich.

Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: ""Why not? He loves Tottenham.

"If Harry Kane goes back they would improve on this season in the Premier League, wouldn't they?

"Now he's won a team trophy he might think it's time to come back and finish his career at Tottenham."

Kane scored 213 goals in 320 Premier League games, leaving him 48 behind Alan Shearer's all-time record.

Perhaps surpassing that record would be an incentive to return one day.

Listen to Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League draw between West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: In terms of quality, it was quite possibly the worst game I've ever seen. Neither side could put more than two passes together, and the number of fouls totally spoiled whatever flow there was to the game. Let's hope we can get the proper side on the pitch on Thursday because this team would get hammered by Bodo/Glimt. The only redeeming thing from this game is that nobody was injured.

Tristen: To be expected, a muted performance. It was played with no intensity from either side. No Spurs player did anything of note - they seemed to play like they didn't want an injury, just in case they get a chance to play on Thursday. It's make-or-break time.

Craig: Pretty non-descript performance, yet again soft goal conceded, by very poor goalkeeping from Guglielmo Vicario. Not many chances created, and it really was a game of two teams at the bottom of the table. Any players hoping to impress to get into the side for the second leg failed miserably.

Tom: Pathetic, dull, meaningless, boring London derby. I've seen better in the park. The sooner this season ends, the sooner Ange Postecoglou's reign will be over, and next season won't be so humiliating.

David: So, so ordinary in just about every department. I know Ange is resting players for the Bodo game, but it was like watching Sunday morning on Hackney Marshes. Mikey Moore put in a good showing, but for too short a time.

Neil: Didn't lose, but it amazes me how Ange still only starts his favourites. Can't wait for him to either be sacked or walk in a few weeks' time.

Mark Chapman presents highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brentford 4-3 Manchester United

• Brighton 1-1 Newcastle United

• Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool

West Brom want Tottenham coach Ryan Mason, 33, to become their new manager. (Sun), external

Fulham boss Marco Silva is a contender to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, if the 59-year-old Australian is sacked after the club's disappointing season. (Football Insider), external

Want more news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport