Back in August when Spurs were 3-0 down early in the first leg of their play-off at Young Boys you could have named your odds on them marching into the last 16 as a group winner.
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Tuesday's game summed up Tottenham's appeal to the neutrals as they looked to attack at every opportunity while at the same time leaving themselves vulnerable at the other end.
"We score plenty of goals but we give them away as well. You want to win but it was important we finished top of the group," manager Harry Redknapp told Sky Sports after his side's goals against tally reached 11.
"I thought it was the toughest group and to top it was a great achievement."
Already qualified and with a superior head-to-head record against Inter thanks to their extraordinary 3-1 demolition of the champions at White Hart Lane, Spurs had only to match the Italian side's result to win the group.
"We've gone for it every game and we came here thinking we could win it," said Redknapp.
"We had two wide men, two up front, we went for it. We got goals but conceded three as well. Overall, I'm delighted with the effort of the players."
Defoe, on target with two sharp reaction finishes, added: "We worked so hard last season to come here so when you are here you want to make the most of it."
Asked how far the team could go in their first crack at the Champions League, having last mixed with the continent's elite in the European Cup back in 1962, the England striker added:
"The way we are playing and the goals we are scoring, you never know."
"Harry Redknapp complimented me by saying we played fantastic football but sometimes too much football, coach Michel Preud'homme told NOS-TV.
"Therefore we conceded goals today and we should find more balance in our game.
"The first goal had to do with the condition of the pitch but before that back-pass we could have
