Tomas Soucek’s international break could go from bad to worse before the Czech Republic’s game against Ireland.
Soucek’s team will face The Boys in Green in an important World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday evening.
The winner will then play against either Denmark or North Macedonia in the final, with a ticket to the United States on the line.
Soucek would normally play an integral role for the Czech Republic, but that may have changed after a nightmare week.
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West Ham United's Tomas Soucek during the Premier League match between Fulham and West Ham
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Tomas Soucek could be dropped for Czech Republic vs Ireland
Earlier this week, Soucek finished fifth in the Czech Footballer of the Year award race – a poor result for the four-time winner.
Even worse, Czech manager Miroslav Koubek stripped the 31-year-old of the captain’s armband and handed it to Wolves’ Ladislav Krecji.
The decision was a punishment for failing to thank the Czech supporters after a 6-0 victory over Gibraltar in November.
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Soucek could now face another blow if the latest reports about the Czech Republic’s preparation for the Ireland game are accurate.
The Irish Sun have reported that the team were spotted training in a 3-5-2 formation without Soucek.
Tomas Soucek during a Czechia training session at Fortuna Arena in Prague
Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Lukas Provod, Vladimir Darida, and West Ham transfer target Pavel Sulc lined up together in a three-man midfield.
When asked whether Soucek will be dropped, Koubek responded via BreakingNews.ie: “I don’t read the newspapers, so I don’t know. You will see tomorrow.”
With 87 caps and 17 goals, Soucek will always be remembered as one of the Czech Republic’s greatest players.
However, unfortunately, it appears that his influence on the team has diminished greatly during this international break.
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