Spurs' mesmerising first-half show fails to yield victory

Harry Redknapp declared Tottenham's Champions League group wide open after watching them mark their debut in the competition with a 2-2 draw at Werder Bremen.

With holders Inter Milan producing an identical result at FC Twente last night, it means all four teams cannot be separated in Group A following the opening round of fixtures. And despite seeing his side squander a two-goal lead at the Weserstadion, Spurs boss Redknapp was in no doubt five more performances of that calibre would be more than enough to progress.

"It'll be a tight group for sure. Twente are a good side. Inter couldn't win there," he said. "If we can draw away from home and win our home games, we'll be okay. I couldn't ask for more than what we did." Redknapp added he could have asked for a victory, something that looked a foregone conclusion after 43 minutes of football as good as anything Spurs have produced during his two years in charge.

They were rampant during the first half at the Weserstadion, scoring via a Petri Pasanen own goal and a fine goal from Peter Crouch. They might even have been three or four up before a crazy four-minute spell either side of half-time saw Hugo Almeida and Marko Marin draw Bremen level.

"We're all disappointed when you're 2-0 up and you don't win," said Redknapp.

"We were much, much better than them in the first half. They didn't get near us. It was a perfect 43 minutes."