Five Talking Points: Olympique Lyonnais 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

French side Olympique Lyon exited the Europa League in dramatic fashion last night after they succumbed to Moussa Dembele’s last-gasp equaliser at the Stade Municipal de Gerland to give Tottenham Hotspur a 3-2 win on aggregate.

Here are five salient issues that stood out for me during the game:

1.) Samuel Umtiti has a place waiting from him in the national team

Several of Lyon’s famed academy players have gone on to map successful careers with their country, and Samuel Umtiti could soon join that list.

Currently playing for the France U-20 side, Umtiti was excellent at left-back against Spurs last night. Constantly winning the one-on-ones with Kyle Walker, the Frenchman is sure to craft a long and successful career wherever he chooses to play if and when he leaves Lyon.

That performance aside, Umtiti has been a mainstay in Lyon boss Remi Garde’s team this season, with Les Gones just three points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1. While players such as Milan Bisevac and Anthony Reveillere have been rotated, Umtiti has been a constant presence in his team’s rearguard.

2.) Remy Vercoutre has been living in the shadows for too long

Lyon are one of France’s greatest sides in the modern era, having won seven consecutive league titles, something no other club in the world has done. Remy Vercoutre had witnessed six of them sitting on the bench.

With long-time first-choice goalkeeper Gregory Coupet collecting seven league medals, Vercoutre was awarded far less because he did not play enough games.

With the arrival of Hugo Lloris in the summer of 2008, 32-year-old Vercoutre continued to stay on the bench, but he impressed whenever he played and was always consistent in all competitions. The world is now able to see that. Vercoutre pulled off several good saves under pressure yesterday until Dembele’s late drive beat him.

It is also quite clear that he is consistent: Lyon are second in Ligue 1, just three points off Paris Saint-Germain.

3.) Try until you succeed seems to be Tottenham’s mantra

Gareth Bale, Moussa Dembele and even Jan Vertonghen and Kyle Walker peppered the Lyon goal from distance throughout the game last night, but a combination of poor finishing and some incredible saves from Vercoutre kept the score at 1-0 to the home team.

Despite being constantly thwarted by the home team, Spurs never gave up on their tactic of long-range efforts, and it ultimately did contribute via Demebele’s late winner.

What was all the more surprising about it was the snake-in-the-grass method in which it was done. Despite not threatening Lyon during the course of the game, Spurs scored when it mattered most, which is why they are now through to the Round of 16.

4.) Spurs could actually win the Europa league

There are heavyweights such as Zenit St. Petersburg – who beat Liverpool last night and Chelsea and a host of other clubs from across Europe but Spurs have shown they are capable of playing with the big boys after their performances in France last night.

That only adds to an impressive showing which saw them negotiate an unbeaten group stage in the Europa League. With their league form also impressive (they sit in fourth place in England) and a chance to win the FA Cup, Tottenham are slowly but steadily getting to be one of the more recognised names of English football.

5.) The Europa League has plenty of drama

Don’t tell me that only the best competitions across the planet contain drama and emotion. There was plenty of it last night.

From Moussa Dembele’s last minute goal for Spurs against Lyon to David Lafata nearly achieving the impossible by drawing Sparta Prague level against Chelsea before a similar winner from another Belgian in Eden Hazard broke Czech hearts.

Take your pick of emotion, for there is plenty. Atletico Madrid, holders of the Europa League won at Rubin Kazan but lost on aggregate, just like Liverpool who succumbed to the away goals rule despite winning at Anfield.