by Staff Writer
Monday, 24th March 2025
A number of West Ham United's first team squad were in action for their respective nations over the course of the last 72 hours.
Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen were the first of our players to be witnessed representing their countries on Friday evening, with the Ghanaian goalless but happy to be part of a 5-0 drubbing of Chad in this African World Cup qualifier staged in Accra.
The Black Stars' goals came from Antoine Semenyo - who opened Ghana's account after just two minutes - Jordan Ayew (via the penalty spot), Iñaki Williams, Mohammed Salisu and, finally, Ernest Nuamah.
Back home in England, Bowen came off the bench in new manager Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge to help seal a 2-0 win against Albania; the goals coming from Arsenal youngster and debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly and skipper Harry Kane.
Moving on to Saturday and West Ham's Czech dup of Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal were involved as the Czech Republic narrowly edged out minnows Faroe Islands in a 2-1 win.
After Patrik Schick has given the Republic a 25th minute lead the visitors unexpectedly equalised through Gunnar Vatnhamar with just seven minutes of normal time remaining. However Schick was on hand to save his team's blushes by doubling his account just two minutes after the scores had been levelled.
And last night (Sunday), Evan Ferguson was back on the scoresheet for the Republic of Ireland as Heimir Hallgrimsson's side came from behind to register a 4-2 aggregate win over Bulgaria in their UEFA Nations League play-off.
2-1 winners in Plovdiv last Thursday meant the Irish simply needed to avoid defeat in order to progress, but Valentin Antov's 30th minute strike left the tie delicately poised at two-apiece.
Ferguson, making his 20th appearance for his country equalised on the hour mark with his fifth international goal to restore Ireland's overall lead, before Adam Idah put the tie out of Bulgaria's reach with an 83rd minute effort to secure a 2-1 win on the night for the Republic and a 4-2 aggregate success.
Current international records
Tomas Soucek (Czech Republic): 78 caps (14 goals)
Vladimir Coufal (Czech Republic): 52 caps (1 goal)
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana): 34 caps (11 goals)
Evan Ferguson (Republic of Ireland): 20 caps (5 goals)
Jarrod Bowen (England): 15 caps (1 goal)
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