Tottenham play the happy tourists as Harry Kane and Spurs prepare for Sydney FC clash

Both Sydney FC and Tottenham are coming off long seasons, but both clubs vow to put on a show after the Spurs stars take in Sydney’s sights.

EVEN the world’s most famous footballers can be impressed, and the grin on Harry Kane’s face rather said it all.

At 11.29am the Qantas flight bringing Tottenham to Sydney from Malaysia was touching down at Kingsford Smith Airport. By 4.20pm Kane and his teammates had walked around the Opera House, seen a Welcome to Country and taken their first steps up towards the summit of the Harbour Bridge. Deep down everyone’s a tourist.

“I’m getting sweaty palms already,” said Ryan Mason, the young Spurs defender, thinking about the Bridge climb, and you could make a cruel joke about the Sydney defence feeling likewise about the prospect of trying to contain Kane.

All eyes were on Harry Kane as he took in the Sydney sights on Thursday.

But really it was diplomacy all around, bearing in mind both teams have finished their seasons and could be forgiven to thinking to holidays ahead.

Kane and Mason though both have international commitments with England as soon as they return there next week, and while Pochettino has made clear his displeasure at the workload, yesterday he was all smiles.

“It’s a very good opportunity and a great experience for us,” said Pochettino. “It’s true we come off a long season, but we’re still looking forward to playing Saturday.”

Inevitably there came a question about the extent to which the Tottenham players have any knowledge of Australian football — slightly unfair given the far-flung spots that teams travel to every year.

The visiting Tottenham squad walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Vivid festival.

Mason had a slight advantage, as he and Socceroo Massimo Luongo came through the Tottenham development system together — and of course there was one other name who just everybody knows about.

“When Del Pierio came here it was such a big thing, and obviously I’ve got a mate, Massimo, who I played with at Spurs,” he said. “We all know the standard’s good and I’m sure it will be a real test.”

At the far end of the table, Sydney coach Graham Arnold came over all misty-eyed as his gaze alighted on Ossie Ardiles at the back of the room, the elegant midfielder whose technical ability lit up Argentine and Tottenham teams of the late 70s and early 80s.

“You see Ossie Ardiles sitting in the crowd, and as a young boy I grew up watching Tottenham play,” said Arnold. “The legends that have gone through the club, from Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle to the top players they’ve got now like Harry and Ryan, it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to test our skills against an English Premier League team.

“I said to the boys that both teams have come off a long season but it’s a great opportunity to showcase the A-League worldwide. We’ll give it our best shot.”