Tottenham Hotspur's next preseason outing sees them take on a Monaco side that will possibly feature new signing, and one of world football's most renowned forwards, Radamel Falcao.
The Colombia international leads a clutch of big-name acquisitions the principality club hope will ensure their return to Ligue 1 this season is a success.
As Tottenham's squad continue their own preparations, Falcao will be chief among the Monaco players they wish to test themselves against at Stade Louis II. Excepting a friendly fixture does not provide a thorough workout, Andre Villas-Boas' defense can still make Saturday's match a worthwhile exercise.
Against Leicester City last weekend, Falcao was a constant menace—though, understandably, not quite operating at peak performance just yet. That is the nature of the 27-year-old's game. You cannot afford to lose track of him, or you risk him hurting you.
His goal against the Foxes—Monaco's second in a 3-0 win—demonstrated this.
Falcao dropped deep to help instigate an attack for his team. After laying the ball off for Andrea Raggi, Falcao was allowed to venture unmarked into the penalty area.
Raggi's low cross was dummied by Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, and Falcao proceeded to comfortably dispatch his shot.
For Leicester defender Wes Morgan, his failure to keep watch on Falcao after he left his side proved costly. Up until that point, Morgan in particular had done a commendable job in stifling one of the European game's most prolific goalscorers.
Falcao is deadly when given a yard or more of space to work with, a fact recognized by anyone who has watched him in action in recent years.
For a half-hour the Leicester skipper did well to close the former Atletico Madrid man down promptly, stopping him in his tracks by hounding him and blocking his path. Tottenham's centre-back pairing this Saturday—quite likely Michael Dawson and Steven Caulker—must apply that same work ethic when he nears goal.
Morgan's eventual mistake highlighted the importance of concentration in playing Falcao.
That responsibility will not just be the burden of Spurs' central defenders, either. Falcao's hunger for the ball will see him appear in midfield positions, as well as out wide.
Spurs' issues with focus last season saw them concede too many avoidable goals. How they fare against the Colombian could give some idea of their efforts to improve in this department.
Stopping Falcao is—as many an opposing defender in the accompanying video of his goals in 2012-13 will testify—not as simple as sticking by him. This quick, clever performer can obliterate even the best of intentions with his exceptional productivity in the final third.
He also occupies so much of a team's attention, it can lead to them overlooking other threats in Claudio Ranieri's side.
Joao Moutinho was one such player who took advantage of the extra space granted him against Leicester, getting forward to link up with teammates and fire off a shot or two himself.
Spurs are certain to give Moutinho more work to do.
Whoever Villas-Boas fields from his myriad of midfield options, taking the game to the Portugal international is their best bet of keeping him quiet.
Attacker Lucas Ocampos was one player who particularly looked to feed off the work of Moutinho, and to a lesser extent Jeremy Toulalan, at the King Power stadium. Should he start this time, it is easy to imagine James Rodriguez also doing the same.
Based on the Leicester performance, Monaco are not afraid to push their full-backs forward too. Spurs' own players in the position—likely Kyle Walker and Danny Rose—can give credence to attack being the best form of defense here.
Moutinho's proficiency from set pieces will also tests Tottenham's ability to concentrate. He set up Layvin Kurzawa to score from a corner last weekend and teased in some testing deliveries after as well.
As with defending Falcao, it will be about Spurs' players stepping up and making their presence known.
A preseason friendly it might be, but there is no harm at this very early stage in the North Londoners setting a tone they will adhere to throughout 2013-14.
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