Pretenders no match for Italian mob

IN the bitter end, the difference was obvious.

Tottenham were the young pretenders and Juventus the seasoned European campaigners.

Even when Spurs went ahead, the Old Lady refused to panic. They knew their chance would come – and they seized it.

The Juventus line-up included seven players who started last year’s Champions League final.

Hugo Lloris was the only Spurs man to have previously gone beyond the last-16 stage.

Ultimately, that was the decisive factor because Mauricio Pochettino’s team looked shell-shocked when Gonzalo Higuain equalised.

And they were still suffering minutes later when Paulo Dybala plundered the winner.

Just like Real Madrid 24 hours earlier, big players turn up when it really matters and that is why the Italian club have reached two Champions League finals in the last three years.

Spurs, meanwhile, are still a work in progress, still learning and still evolving under Pochettino.

Their hunger and enthusiasm was wiped out as Juventus lived up to their reputation and status as one of European football’s genuine heavyweights.

Gianluigi Buffon, now 40, and Giorgio Chiellini, 33, are ageing, possibly past their best – but they have the nous. Spurs have youth on their side – but that’s not enough.

It was a remarkable night for Juventus, a polished, brilliant performance as Higuain scored a poacher’s goal before Dybala’s worldclass finish.

Spurs will rue their firsthalf dominance and chances. That is the difference between a team with European experience and one still learning on the biggest stage.