Tottenham reached the last 16 of the Champions League after a 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen.
Kaboul, Modric and Crouch send Spurs into the knockout stages
Harry Redknapp's current crop continued to write a new chapter in Tottenham's history as a 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen at White Hart Lane guaranteed the UEFA Champions League debutants a spot in the last 16.
A fourth-placed finish in last season's Premier League and the qualifying play-off win against Young Boys that followed in August to book participation in the European Cup proper for the first time in 48 years were viewed as exceeding expectations.
Even the blistering destruction of reigning continental kings Inter Milan at the Lane always carried suggestions of a souvenir, and therefore the win over a half-hearted Bremen carried arguably greater significance as a marker of Spurs' calibre.
Younes Kaboul's sixth-minute volley and Luka Modric's composed second in first-half stoppage-time gave Spurs fans early reason to begin to reminisce about a return of the glorious days of European Cup semi-finals in the early 1960s.
And, despite Gareth Bale failing with a second-half penalty, when Peter Crouch added a late third it became certain that there will be suggestions of a new generation who can match the achievements of Bill Nicholson, Danny Blanchflower et al.
For Thomas Schaaf's Bremen, it was a dreadful night and the inconsistent Bundesliga outfit are now guaranteed to finish bottom of Group A, while Spurs can win the group with a win over FC Twente in their last outing.
They may be very much wildcards when it comes to the knockout stage but no-one will want to come to White Hart Lane and face the likes of Bale, who picked up where he left off against Inter three weeks earlier.
Tottenham could have been forgiven for starting cautiously in the absence of injured talisman Rafael van der Vaart, but they were on their way after six minutes, a succession of corners eventually seeing the ball worked to Aaron Lennon.
The winger beat Dominik Schmidt all too easily before crossing for the unmarked and North London derby winner Kaboul to fire home first time.
Dangerous
Dominik Schmidt, one of two debutants in an injury-ravaged Bremen team, tried to make amends when he glanced Aaron Hunt's corner over the crossbar.
The visitors enjoyed a boost when Jermaine Jenas limped out of the action to be replaced by Wilson Palacios in the 20th minute.
But they should have been 2-0 down two minutes later, Bale crossing for the recalled Crouch, whose knockdown was sliced horribly high and wide by Roman Pavlyuchenko.
Spurs provided a hint as to why they had not kept a clean sheet for three months when last man Lennon presented the ball to the dangerous Marko Marin, who scuffed wide from 20 yards.
Lennon quickly returned to the day job, skinning Sebastian Prodl and crossing for Pavlyuchenko, who should have finished first time, but took a touch that allowed Per Mertesacker to block.
Clemens Fritz's frustration at his Bale torment boiled over when the Bremen right-back was booked for hauling the latter back.
Kaboul nodded over Bale's corner before Spurs doubled their lead in stoppage-time, Alan Hutton crossing and Crouch causing enough mayhem to allow Modric to nip in with a brilliant piece of control and ice-cool finish.
Having scored four, four and three in their three previous Champions League home games, it appeared a matter of how many Spurs would rack up in the second half.
Standing ovation
Their first chance came when Sebastian Prodl was cautioned for felling the flying Lennon, and Bale sent a 51st minute free-kick against the bar.
The winger then produced a sensational cross for Crouch, whose point-blank header somehow hit Prodl and ricocheted behind.
Moments later, Tottenham were awarded the softest of penalties when debutant Felix Kroos was adjudged to have tripped Modric.
Tim Wiese guessed the right way to save Bale's 53rd minute spot-kick and Prodl was on hand to clear the rebound. Bremen immediately withdrew Kroos, who had been booked, for Onur Ayek, while Spurs soon followed with Jermain Defoe for Pavyluchenko.
Defoe quickly showed his two-month injury lay-off had cost him none of his pace, the England striker racing onto Modric's ball and firing a fierce shot Wiese did well to parry.
If new captain William Gallas had any doubt his North London derby performance had won over his doubters among the Spurs fans, it was dispelled when he was treated to an affectionate chant after thwarting a Marin attack.
Tottenham showed no sign of sitting back, with several crosses going begging and Bale drilling inches wide after being found by Defoe.
They finally got the third goal their dominance deserved 11 minutes from time when Bale's cross hit the bar and Lennon cut back the rebound for Crouch to steer home.
Bale was soon withdrawn for Niko Kranjcar to a deserved standing ovation and a rest ahead of bigger tests to come.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
Werder Bremen |
| 3 |
Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 10 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 6 |
Corners |
1 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
26 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
4 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 86.4 |
Passing Success |
81.3 |
| 16 |
Tackles |
29 |
| 93.8 |
Tackles Success |
82.8 |
| 57.4 |
Possession |
42.6 |
| 45.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
54.2 |
|
