The long wait is over as Spurs have finally got their man with the announcement that Jacques Santini will take up the position of head coach after the Euro 2004 Championships.

Whether or not Santini was Daniel Levy's first choice is hard to tell as there have been so many people linked with the role since Hoddle's departure back in September. My personal opinion is that Spurs turned to Santini after getting knocked back elsewhere.

Santini is currently in charge of the French national team, having taken over after their disastrous performance in the 2002 World Cup. He guided them through the Euro 2004 qualifiers with a 100% record.

Domestically he won the French cup and then the league in consecutive seasons while at Lyon prior to taking his current role.

This appointment shows that Spurs can still attract big names and that they are highly rated abroad. Certainly Santini thinks so:

'I am an ambitious man and it has always been a dream of mine to coach a big English club in the most exciting league in the world. Tottenham Hotspur are a very big club, with a wonderful history and great traditions.'

The timing is just about right as most people's attention will soon turn to the European championships where France will be defending their title. Obviously September 2003 would have been better but that's life - at least it is if you're a Spurs fan

This appointment puts Santini in a perfect position to talent spot during the championships and might lead to some more Gallic flair featuring in our squad next season. It also means we can make signings as soon as we want afterwards without having to wait around until we get someone who agrees with Arnesen's views on a particular player.

The only downsides I can see to Santini taking the job are that he hasn't coached in England before and that he will constantly get compared to another French manager who is in a charge of that mob down the road.

All being well however, we now have a good management structure in place to take the club forward and put us back where we belong - up there with the elite.

The announcement that Martin Jol will be joining Spurs after Euro 2004 as 1st assistant coach to Jacques Santini should be the final piece in the jigsaw that is the new management structure at Spurs.

Arnesen, Santini and Jol are all highly respected across Europe and have had success at their various teams prior to making the journey to White Hart Lane.

Santini's achievements with Lyon and the French national team are well documented, as are those of Arnesen in his role at PSV.

Jol's came in the shape of taking a team that initially struggled against relegation and helping them challenge for Europe. Hopefully he can help to achieve similar results for Spurs.

Both Arnesen and Jol have a reputation for developing young players, so we can hopefully look forward to the likes of Jackson, Yeates and Marney developing into better 1st team players and also new prospects coming through the ranks and being brought in from across Europe.

Santini won't take any backchat from the dressing room and hopefully the days where talk of unrest amongst senior players features in the back pages of the press on a daily basis will be gone.

As long as the management team can gel quickly and are given the full support - especially financially - of the board, there is no reason why Spurs can't put last season behind them and look forward to much brighter days.

Portugal 1 - 2 Greece

The hosts were shocked in the opening match of the tournament as Greece claimed their first ever win at a major championship.

Spurs connections: Helder Postiga was an unused substitute for the hosts.

Spain 1 - 0 Russia

An inspired substitution by the Spanish paid dividends as Valeron scored the only goal of the game just 36 seconds after coming on. Sharonov was the recipient of the tournament's first red card after a second bookable offence

Spurs connections: None, except former perma-target Morientes, who made way for Valeron.

Switzerland 0 - 0 Croatia

The 2 other teams in England's group played out a goalless draw. The Swiss had Vogel sent off 5 minutes into the 2nd half but Croatia were unable to make the extra man count.

Spurs connections: None.

France 2 - 1 England

2 late goals from Zidane clinched the points for the defending champions as England snatched defeat from the jaws of victory of a heroic backs to the wall performance

Spurs connections: New head coach Santini was struggling to find a way of breaking down the English back four until Heskey and Gerrard's errors. Ledley King put in a majestic performance and kept Henry and Trezeguet under control in only his 2nd start for England. Paul Robinson was an unused substitute for England.

Denmark 0 - 0 Italy

Defences and goalkeepers were on top throughout the Group C opener.

Spurs connections: Trappatoni, the man who turned down the Spurs job, saw his side fail to take 3 points.

Sweden 5 - 0 Bulgaria

2 great goals from Henrik Larsson set the Swedes on their way to a comprehensive victory over a decent Bulgarian side which will send a warning out to the rest of their group and many other teams in the tournament.

Spurs connections: None.

Czech Republic 2 - 1 Latvia

The Czech's finally proved too strong for Latvia who had taken a shock lead at the end of the first half and maintained it until the final 20 minutes.

Spurs connections: None.

Germany 1 - 1 Holland

Ruud van Nistlerooy rescued a point for the Dutch after Torsten Frings 1st half free kick had deceived the Dutch defence and Edwin van der Sar.

Spurs connections: Former Spur Christian Ziege was an unused sub.

Greece 1 - 1 Spain

Greece maintained their bright start to the tournament courtesy of an equaliser from Angelos Charisteas. Spain had opened the scoring through Morientes. Carlos Marchena will be suspended for Spain's final group game after getting his second caution of the tournament.

Spurs connections: None.

Russia 0 - 2 Portugal

Russia bowed out of the tournament after their second defeat. Their cause wasn't helped after their goalkeeper, Sergei Ovchinnikov, became the second Russian to see red in the championships for handball. Maniche scored early on but the result was still in doubt due to a courageous display from the Russians until Rui Costa added the second 2 minutes from time.

Spurs connections: Postiga was an unused sub.

England 3 - 0 Switzerland

Wayne Rooney became the youngest ever goalscorer in the European championships with his 23rd minute header. He added a second with 15 minutes to go but by this time the Swiss were down to 10 men after Bernt Haas received a 2nd yellow card. Steven Gerrard added a third late on as England got their route to the quarter finals back on track.

Spurs connections: King and Robinson were both unused substitutes.

Croatia 2 - 2 France

David Trezeguet rescued a point for the French after Croatia threatened to pull off the biggest upset of the tournament so far. An Igor Tudor own goal gave the French the lead but Silvestre conceded another penalty, this time converted by Milan Rapaic, and then Dado Prso capitalised on an error by Marcel Desailly to give the Croatians the lead.

Spurs connections: Jacques Santini must be a relieved man as his side had to come from behind again. He has work to do if they are to succesfully defend their crown.

Bulgaria 0 - 2 Denmark

Jon Dahl Tomasson and Jesper Gronjkaer scored the goals that put Bulgaria out and kept the Danes in with a good chance of qualifying for the quarter finals. tomasson scored momments before the break. Bulgarian captain, Stilian Petrov, talked himself into a second yellow, followed by a red, by arguing over a free kick that wasn't awarded 5 minutes before time then Gronjkaer wrapped up the result

Spurs connections: Gronjkaer has been linked with a move to WHL but most rumours suggests he's off to Birmingham City after the tournament.

Italy 1 - 1 Sweden

Italy still aren't firing on all cylinders and paid for a negative approach after taking the lead when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a deserved equaliser 6 minutes from full time. Cassano had given Italy the lead on 36 minutes.

Spurs connections: Could-have-been Spurs coach Trapattoni had to watch another draw which leaves qualification in doubt but his tactics played a big part in the Italians not claiming all 3 points.

Latvia 0 - 0 Germany

Germany's unconvincing start to the tournament faltered once again as they failed to break down the Group D minnows of Latvia. It could have been worse as Mike Riley twice refused to award a penalty when Verpakovskis was bundled over in the area. Miroslav Klose could have snatched a win at the death but wasted a free header when presented with the best chance of the match

Spurs connections: Ziege once again remained on the bench.

Holland 2 - 3 Czech Republic

The Dutch contrived to throw away a 2 goal lead as goals from Jan Koller, Milan Baros and a winner from Vladimir Smicer ensured the Czech's qualification from Group D. Goals from Bouma and Van Nistlerooy eventually counted for nothing for the Dutch who had Johnny Heitinga sent off and are now struggling to qualify for the quarter finals.

Spurs connections: None.

Group A:

The hosts Portugal made it through at the expense of their Spanish neighbours as a Nuno Gomez goal was enough to secure the win that put them top of the group. Dark horses Greece almost fluffed their lines after going 2 goals down early against already eliminated Russia but a goal from Vryzas saw them go through on goals scored.

Postiga was on the bench once again

Group B:

England came from behind to secure runners up spot thanks to a brace from Rooney. Scholes scored his first international goal for 3 years after an early goal from Kovac. Tudor pulled one back but Lampard settled it after a fine run.

King played the last 20 minutes in the holding midfield role he occupied so often for Spurs last season. He looked assured and almost set up a goal for Owen with a dinked pass into the box. Robinson wasn't called upon.

Group C:

The Scandinavians went through after a 'convenient' 2-2 draw which meant Italy's win over Bulgaria was futile.

Group D:

The Germans were knocked out by an under-strength Czech Republic team, who were the only nation to have a 100% record in the group stage. The Dutch were the team to benefit after a comfortable win over Latvia which included a brace from van Nistlerooy to take him on to 4 goals for the tournament - level with Rooney.

A penalty spot less stable than the political situation in the Middle East, a shocking decision from a less than neutral Swiss ref and an injury to wonderkid Rooney added to England's usual below par second half performance all contributed one way or another to England's exit from Euro 2004.

Italia 90, Euro 96, France 98 and now Euro 2004. 4 out of the last 7 major tournaments we've qualified for have seen us lose out on penalties. Beckham and Vassell were the unsuccessful England penalty takers but it was the inability to defend a lead that cost England once again.

Things started so well as Owen latched on to a poor header from Costinha and instinctively chipped the ball over Ricardo with less than 3 minutes gone.

Just before the half hour mark Rooney appeared to go over on his ankle and after a couple of minutes treatment was forced off, to be replaced by Vassell.

The blow of losing their top scorer seemed to take the wind out of England's sails and they were gradually forced back into their own half for longer and longer periods. Portugal were unable to make the most of their possession and territorial advantage count and when their talisman Figo was withdrawn with a quarter of an hour to go it seemed a last throw of the dice. The man who replaced him was Helder Postiga, whose 1st season with Spurs amounted to a return of 2 goals in 24 appearances and plenty of rumours of his rapid departure.

But 8 minutes after coming on, he got on the end of a Simao cross to head past James. It looked like England had snatched a winner at the death when Campbell headed home in stopage time, but just as in '98 he turned round from his celebrations to see that the ref had disallowed his goal and the other team were setting off on an attack. Referee Urs Meier deemed that there had been a foul on Ricardo. Very convenient for the host nation.

Another Portuguese substitute, Rui Costa, put them ahead 5 minutes into the second period of extra time and it looked like England were done for. But with 5 minutes to go, Terry headed down a Beckham corner and Lampard swivelled to level the scores and set up the shoot-out which was once again to be our undoing.