Wow!
Tottenham drew 3-3 last week against FC Twente in Holland to top the most difficult group in this years UEFA Champions League.
For this reason, they must be considered by potential opponents in the knockout phases of the competition as a serious proposition to be studied carefully and respected.
Manager Harry Redknapp said on the eve of the campaign that he would not alter the attacking mentality of a team with a string of quick, talented and young midfielders.
One in particular has outshone all others. His name, Gareth Bale.
The 21 year-old Welsh winger scored a stunning hat-trick (in video link) at the San Siro stadium during Tottenham's only defeat in six, an incredible 4-3 reverse which saw 10-man Spurs beat the holders by three goals in the second half.
He was also instrumental in particular against all three opponents in the encounter's at the team's London home, White Hart Lane and capitalised on some naive defending by Douglas Maicon, considered the best right-back in the world by many, to lead his team to an historic 3-1 victory against Inter Milan to avenge the defeat a fortnight earlier.
While Spurs shipped 11 goals in six matches, the likes of Bale, Modric and Van der Vaart were rampant and racked up a tournamnent-leading 18 goals, becoming the first-ever side in the history of the competition to score at least three goals in four consecutive matches.
So strengths clearly include ambition, creativity and belief. But what about the team's weaknesses?
While it is true that the team has sorely missed England stalwart and club captain Ledley King and his courageous ally, Michael Dawson, The Lillywhites have too often panicked and conceded soft goals.
In the opening match of the tournament, Spurs stormed to a two-goal lead but lost initiative and were lucky to hold on to a 2-2 draw, as their defenders allowed the dangerous Marko Marin too much space.
Inter Milan were brutal in the first 30 minutes of their victory but the away side contributed significantly to their downfall.
Alan Hutton was out of position and lethargic for the opening goal and Benoit Assou-Ekotto was guilty of the same mistakes just moments later. Calamity 'keeper Heurelho Gomes made an error of judgement to commit himself to bringing down Biabany to concede a penalty and reduce his team to 10 men so early on in such a daunting fixture.
You could say that Spurs were intimidated by the occasion.
I would argue that Tottenham's defensive downfall does not arise because of the poor quality of their players.
Instead, it is caused by three factors: individual mistakes, no dominant holding midifield player, a penchant for all-out attack.
Nevertheless, there is a saying popular with English sports journalists: 'If it 'aint broke, dont fix it'. And this applies to Tottenham's successful campaign.
Nobody expected the team to top Group A. Now that this landmark has been achieved, the North Londoners must continue to attack with confidence and fearlessness and, at the same time, try not to concede too many needless free-kicks.
Kobenhavn, Lyon, Marseille, AC Milan, Roma and Valencia are the potential opponents in a two-tie last-16 clash.
All should be respected; none should be feared. Perhaps the strongest opponents are Lyon and Milan given their pedigree in the competition but even Kobenhavn will prove a tough nut to crack.
Whatever happens, club chairman Daniel Levy - who has already pocketed £30 million for the club for their qualification - Harry Redknapp and the players and fans must all be delighted and very excited about Friday's draw.
When the competition kicks back into gear, it is possible Spurs will have one or two fresh faces in the form of new signings and players returning from injury.
Will Spurs make it to Wembley? Don't bet against them just yet...
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