Kevin Wimmer wants Tottenham to show Europe they are ready for the Uefa Champions League when they take on Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.
Spurs face the German giants at the Westfalenstadion in the Europa League last 16 and it is the first time the two clubs have ever met in a competitive match.
Dortmund reached the Champions League final three years ago and are enjoying another excellent season in the Bundesliga, where they sit second, five points behind Bayern Munich.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are second in the Premier League, as they chase a first league title since 1961, and Wimmer believes Spurs can make a statement this week about their European credentials.
“Tottenham against Dortmund could easily be a Champions League game – it’s a big opportunity for us to see where we are at the moment,” Wimmer said.
“We are trying to improve all the time and this is a chance for us to show Europe we are a very good team.
“I think we have a very good squad with a lot of talented players. Everybody is hungry to play every game and show that he can play.”
Read more:
Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund meet in clash of contenders
‘We missed a big opportunity’ admits Mauricio Pochettino, but urges Spurs to stay positive
Wimmer is no stranger to German football, having moved to White Hart Lane last summer from Cologne, where he made 32 league appearances last season.
The Austrian centre-half is now a regular in the Tottenham backline after Jan Vertonghen was sidelined with a knee injury, and he has impressed, striking a strong partnership along Toby Alderweireld.
“I played for a year in the Bundesliga but the intensity in England is amazing, much higher than in Germany and it is more attractive for me to play in England,” Wimmer said.
“It’s always nice feeling to come back to Germany. I’ve been looking forward to this game. Every player was happy when we saw the draw. Dortmund are a very good team but this is a good opportunity to show our quality.”
The first leg in Germany will be Pochettino’s 100th game in charge at Tottenham and the Argentinean admits his youthful side are in for a thorough examination.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has netted 29 goals in 33 games this season while the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Marco Reus and Mats Hummels have all been linked with the continent’s most glamorous clubs. Gundogan was pictured on Thursday meeting Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain in Amsterdam.
“Borussia Dortmund have very good players, a very good team, a great coach - Thomas Tuchel is fantastic and he has showed that from the beginning of the season,” Pochettino said.
“I like the way they play but I think that it’s a good challenge for us. I think we play against one of the best teams in Europe.
“The strikers they have - Aubameyang, (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan, Gundogan in midfield, Hummels - they’re internationals and big players. They can stay here or go to Real Madrid or Barcelona.”
Pochettino must again balance a desire to progress in Europe’s second tier tournament with Tottenham’s domestic ambitions.
Dele Alli, Danny Rose and Eric Dier have all been left in England with Alli suspended, Rose nursing a calf problem and Dier handed a rest ahead of Sunday’s game at Aston Villa.
Europa League last-16, first-leg fixtures
THursday (in UAE time)
• Shakhtar Donetsk v Anderlecht, 10pm
• Basel v Sevilla, 10pm
• Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham Hotspur, 10pm
• Fenerbahce v Braga, 10pm
• Villarreal v Bayer Leverkusen, 12.05am
• Athletic Bilbao v Valencia, 12.05am
• Liverpool v Manchester United, 12.05am
• Sparta Prague v Lazio, 12.05am
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RESULTS
Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)
Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)
Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)
Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
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Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan
January 24 – First T20, Lahore
January 25 – Second T20, Lahore
January 27 – Third T20, Lahore
February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi
April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi
April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi
GROUPS
Group Gustavo Kuerten
Novak Djokovic (x1)
Alexander Zverev (x3)
Marin Cilic (x5)
John Isner (x8)
Group Lleyton Hewitt
Roger Federer (x2)
Kevin Anderson (x4)
Dominic Thiem (x6)
Kei Nishikori (x7)
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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