NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, England -- Mauricio Pochettino has hailed the professionalism and commitment of his World Cup semifinalists after Tottenham Hotspur kicked off their campaign with a victory at Newcastle United.
Nine of Spurs' players reached the final four in Russia and only returned to training on Monday -- just five days before the opening fixture at St James' Park.
But five of them started the match, while Mousa Dembele came off the bench, and first-half goals from Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli secured a 2-1 triumph on Tyneside.
"I told you [the other day] that many of the players returned in a good condition," Pochettino said.