Europa League 2025 as it happened: Ange’s Spurs into semi-finals after gritty away win in Germany

It felt like Ange Postecoglou could even be out of a job before Easter was over had Tottenham Hotspur exited the Europa League.

Instead the head coach and Tottenham fight on after an impressive battling performance (a rarity in Postecoglou’s reign) to reach their first semi-final in this competition, then the Uefa Cup, since 1984.

Whether even winning this competition, and earning a precious Champions League place, with the finance that brings, can save Postecoglou remains in severe doubt. Maybe the die is already cast on his future given their wretchedness in the Premier League.

Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal.Credit: AP

But had Spurs lost to Eintracht Frankfurt, Postecoglou may well not have been in the dug-out for Monday’s next league encounter, at home to Nottingham Forest, such was the mood. Their season would have been over and, so, it could be argued there was little reason for carrying on given how beleaguered he has become.

But in winning, and keeping a clean sheet, Spurs have also kept alive the Australian’s much-derided declaration that he always claims a trophy in his second season at a club. That promise is one he can still keep, whatever then happens.

The Frankfurt fans were relentless. Postecoglou will hope he has silenced some of the noise around him and he looked like a man, on the touchline, who knew what was at stake. On the final whistle all his coaches jumped on him for a group hug with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario sprinting to join in.

Nestled between the usual posts from the defeatists and doomsayers was a curious report on social media. Huddled in a Frankfurt pub before kick-off, a small group of Tottenham Hotspur supporters reached way, way back into their songbook.

“I’m loving Big Ange instead,” they sang, to the tune of Robbie Williams’ Angels. You may remember this little ditty from Ange Postecoglou’s famous 10-game start to life as Spurs boss, back when optimism outweighed cynicism across north London.

That feels like a long time ago. No doubt this rendition was delivered more out of forlorn hope, as a musical prayer of sorts, rather than an expression pride or confidence. The post was, of course, promptly ridiculed.

But those old vibes are threatening to come back.

Read the full post-match analysis here.

Ange Postecoglou’s next opponents will be a familiar one: Bodo/Glimt of Norway.

They’ve just beaten Lazio 3-2 in a penalty shootout in the other quarter-final on Tottenham Hotspur’s side of the draw. That was after it finished 3-3 on aggregate after extra time.

Bodo/Glimt will be familiar to Ange followers. They are the team that smashed Celtic in the UEFA Conference League three years ago.

Time for revenge?

The first bits of Ange Postecoglou’s post-match press conference are filtering through:

I’m delighted with many things, super proud of the lads. Going away from home, a quarter-final against a very good side, you know you’re going to have to work really hard, be really disciplined and we needed to score. When had to show the quality we had as well.

To a man I just though they were outstanding, so proud of them. In such a big game, they delivered a performance and it means we’re through to a semi-final. I think over the two legs we deserved to go through. It could have been all over in the first leg but we earned the right to be in the semi.

And some cheek at the end to the English journalists who have doubted him:

Unfortunately, for a lot of you, you are going to have to put up with me for a little bit longer.

Well, sorry we haven’t been bringing you updates of the other match involving an English side this morning. But it’s been an all-time classic. It was 2-2 in the first leg between Manchester United and Lyon. And 2-0 at half-time of the second leg at Old Trafford… then Lyon went 4-2 up, and now United have scored twice in the very last minutes of extra time… and they’re about to win it 5-4, or 7-6 on aggregate.

Incredible.

It felt like Ange Postecoglou could even be out of a job before Easter was over had Tottenham Hotspur exited the Europa League.

Instead the head coach and Tottenham fight on after an impressive battling performance (a rarity in Postecoglou’s reign) to reach their first semi-final in this competition, then the Uefa Cup, since 1984.

Whether even winning this competition, and earning a precious Champions League place, with the finance that brings, can save Postecoglou remains in severe doubt. Maybe the die is already cast on his future given their wretchedness in the Premier League.

Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal.Credit: AP

But had Spurs lost to Eintracht Frankfurt, Postecoglou may well not have been in the dug-out for Monday’s next league encounter, at home to Nottingham Forest, such was the mood. Their season would have been over and, so, it could be argued there was little reason for carrying on given how beleaguered he has become.

But in winning, and keeping a clean sheet, Spurs have also kept alive the Australian’s much-derided declaration that he always claims a trophy in his second season at a club. That promise is one he can still keep, whatever then happens.

The Frankfurt fans were relentless. Postecoglou will hope he has silenced some of the noise around him and he looked like a man, on the touchline, who knew what was at stake. On the final whistle all his coaches jumped on him for a group hug with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario sprinting to join in.

Ange Postecoglou celebrates.Credit: Getty Images

...for a lunging tackle to try and clear Tottenham’s lines, and you’d have to say, that was fully deserved.

Frankfurt now has a free kick from deep, and their goalkeeper is up for it. This is all or nothing.

Ball goes in… it’s cleared… Spurs get the ball and take it forward…

AND THERE’S THE WHISTLE!

THEY’VE DONE IT!

THE COACHES MOB ANGE POSTECOGLOU IN CELEBRATION!

THEY’RE INTO THE SEMI-FINALS!

Oh boy. Another corner. This is painful. Can Spurs keep them out?

That one sails through the box and to the other side without finding anyone. Now Spurs have a throw and Romero is down, no doubt draining the clock… he’s suggesting he took a hit to the head but replays show that this is a bit of gamesmanship from him. Whatever it takes, at this point...

The clock ticks down, though you’d expect this time will be added on at the end of the five minutes.

Funnily enough? Apparently he’s bleeding. Maybe he isn’t making this all up!

Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1 (1-2) Tottenham Hotspur, 90+4 minutes

Another corner to defend here for Tottenham.

Defended successfully. But Frankfurt has an attacking throw-in. They retain possession… long ball into the box... van de Ven clears.

We’re now into extra time, five minutes of it to come, and Spurs have possession. They need to keep it for as long as possible!

Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1 (1-2) Tottenham Hotspur, 90+1 minutes