Son Heung-min, 31, was the best player on the European stage last week.
The soccer statistics site Fúscore.com named its Team of the Week for the five major European leagues on Friday (June 5). Son was named to the team as a left flanker in a 3-4-3 formation.
Evan Ferguson (Brighton) and Victor Boniface (Leverkusen) formed the front three alongside Son. Son’s teammates James Maddison and Manor Solomon (both Tottenham), Leroy Sane (Munich) and Xavi Simons (Leipzig) rounded out the second midfield.
Jules Kunde (Barcelona), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), and Kurt Zouma (West Ham) rounded out the back three, while Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart) was named goalkeeper.
Earlier in the day, Heung-min was named to the EPL Team of the Week for Round 4, announced by English Premier League (EPL) Secretary General Alan Shearer. In a 4-3-3 formation, Son formed a trio with Elling Holland (Man City) and Ferguson. Maddison and Declan Rice (Arsenal), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham), and Billy Gilmour (Brighton) were selected in the middle. Joe Gomes (Liverpool), Willy Boly, and Joe Worrall (all of Nottingham) are the three backs, and Jordan Pickford (Everton) is the goalkeeper.
It didn’t stop there. The BBC also named Son Heung-min to its Team of the Week. In addition to Son, the outlet named Holland, Ferguson, Maddison, Rice, Dominik Sobosler (Liverpool), Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Zouma, Worrall, and Pickford.
Son Heung-min scored a hat trick to lead Tottenham to a 5-2 victory over Burnley in the fourth round of the 2023-2024 EPL at Turf Moor in Burnley, England, on Feb. 2. Spurs moved to second place in the league with three wins and a draw (10 points), two points behind leader Manchester City. It was the fourth time Son has scored a hat trick in the EPL. He scored his first EPL hat trick with four goals against Southampton in September 2020, followed by a hat trick against Aston Villa in April 2022 and another against Leicester City in September.
Immediately after the game, Son was named the EPL’s Man of the Match, the league’s highest honor. At the time, Fourscore.com gave Son the highest rating of 9.6 for both teams, and another statistician, Footmob, also gave him a 9.6.
On this day, coach Enze Postecoglou deployed Son Heung-min in a 4-2-3-1 formation as a frontline striker instead of a traditional flanker. It was a so-called ‘Son TOP’ move. Postecoglou believed that Son would make up for the lack of goals following the departure of Harry Kane, and Son rewarded his faith with a hat-trick.
In the 16th minute of the first half, with Tottenham trailing 1-0, Heung-min rattled the net with an exquisite chip over the onrushing goalkeeper Keylor Solomon after receiving a pass from Manor Solomon. Son embraced vice-captain James Maddison to share the joy.
Son’s second goal came midway through the second half. In the 18th minute of the second half, Solomon, who assisted on Son’s first goal, broke down the left flank and crossed low to Son, who was charging toward goal. Heung-min finished with a non-stop right-footed shot to split the net again. Solomon hugged Son and celebrated. Pape Sarr, a close friend of Son’s, celebrated with a fist bump.
Heung-min’s momentum only grew stronger. Just four minutes later, he completed his hat trick. Pedro Foro spotted Son slipping into the back of the defense and fired an “earth-shattering pass. He used his speed to break the defense and rattled the net with a powerful left-footed shot. Son beamed as he ran to Sanchez, who was warming up near the bench, and hugged him.
A baptism of praise followed. CBS Sports in the U.S. praised Son, saying, “Tottenham now have a frontline striker (Son).” The outlet emphasized that Son has made up for Kane’s absence. “Tottenham have enjoyed a fascinating season under manager Enze Postecoglou, scoring more than two goals in every game. But it wasn’t until the 5-2 thrashing of Burnley that concerns about Kane’s absence were erased. That’s because the frontman’s goals were not coming. “He was frustrated after starting and playing in the opening two games,” he explained.
“Heung-Min Son proved perfectly why he was the number nine in Kane’s place whenever Kane was out of the team in the past,” the outlet said, “and if Solomon can help take some of the pressure off Son and Maddison to score, the combination of the three players will be even better.” He went on to praise Postecoglou, saying he is “taking Tottenham in the right direction.” 카지노
“Son’s determination is still fantastic,” said the UK’s Evening Standard. He scored a hat-trick away from home.” “He was involved in all of Tottenham’s good play, playing a key role and even scoring a goal,” said one, while another praised Maddison: “Son may have scored a hat-trick, but Maddison was Tottenham’s best player.”
“His chip shot after exchanging passes with Solomon was beautiful,” said the UK’s Football London, “He played the role of a frontline striker in a different way and it was very effective.” “It was a great performance as a frontline striker in his system,” he added.
Tottenham manager Enze Postecoglou also praised Son Heung-min. “Sonny (Son) did a really good job, he’s a great leader who leads by example in training every day,” he said, according to the BBC. He led our pressing line brilliantly and eventually scored a hat-trick. He has great qualities to capitalize on his chances. We are very happy to have Sonny with us.”
On Son’s positioning: “Son can play anywhere. That’s not why we didn’t sign a frontline striker, but he can play anywhere.”