Tottenham Hotspur goalie Guglielmo Vicario trains with set-pieces with Italy
Spurs keeper Gigi Vicario has been under the microscope for his set-piece defending, but he’s using the October 2025 international break with Italy to tackle this head-on.
Sitting out Italy’s 3-1 win over Estonia, he told Football.London that he’s been drilling set-piece scenarios in training.
“Football requires great concentration now, when attacking and defending. We know that many goals are scored from set plays nowadays, so we have been working on those details to improve.”
This effort reflects his intent to fix a weakness that’s dogged him, especially after last season’s struggles with near-post corners.
Go on, Vic!
Set-piece coach Andreas Georgson and Co. have tightened up the team’s dead-ball defending. Last term, under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs were shaky against set pieces, with Vicario often catching flak for hesitating on crosses aimed near his post.
Now, the team looks more solid compared to before, conceding fewer goals from corners and free kicks while also threatening more when attacking them. Vicario’s work with Italy shows he’s doubling down on these improvements, focusing on the details to cut out those costly moments that have fuelled fan criticism.
But let’s talk numbers, because the stats tell a different story from the moans of some Spurs fans. According to DataMB, Vicario tops Europe’s top seven leagues for prevented goals, save percentage, and completed passes. That’s no small feat. He’s joint third for clean sheets with three, joint third for total saves at 24, and third for saves inside the box with 18.
Then there’s the leadership angle. At 28, Vicario’s not just a shot-stopper; he’s one of Frank’s five-man leadership group, barking orders and lifting the squad’s spirit. His stats back up his presence: joint fourth for successful runs out (six) and joint 16th for high claims (three), though there’s room to sharpen up on the latter. His training stint with Italy proves he’s not dodging the heat but facing it, grinding to make those near-post wobbles history.
