As West Ham United have struggled this season, several of their international players have seen their own fortunes dip: Axel Disasi remains overlooked in the French national side despite performing heroics whilst on loan.
Edson Alvarez, as covered yesterday, is out of both domestic and international football whilst recovering forom surgery and faces an agonising battle against time to get fit for the summer tournament. Plus of course Crysenciuo Summerville’s well documented calf muscle issue has cost him a first Netherlands call up in their last round of friendlies before the ’26 World Cup finals.
Tomas Soucek, it was thought, was likeley on his way down and out of favour with the Czech republic having been stripped of the captaincy for ignoring travelling fans at the end of a defeat by the Faroe Islands: Many felt Tornado Tom was going to fail to make the squad for tonight’s semi final World Cup qualifier play off against Ireland.
However reported today in breakingnews.ie it seems the outlook for West Ham’s veteran midfielder is far from gloomy:
“Czech Republic boss Miroslav Koubek has insisted “full-fat” Tomas Soucek remains a key player for his country despite being stripped of the captaincy.
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The 31-year-old West Ham midfielder has been replaced as skipper by Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci after being removed from his position amid the fall-out from a 2-1 Group L qualifier defeat by the Faroe Islands in October.
Soucek and Coufal high fives in celebration
Soucek’s international career may be far from over
[Koubek said] “Tomas Soucek is an outstanding player with a great career. He doesn’t have the captain’s armband at this moment for reasons you all know, but nothing changes.
“It does not mean he will lose his value. He is still a ‘full-fat’ player, if I can use these words.”
Full-fat potato salad Soucek’s international career, but seems, is far from over and the ‘at the moment’ comment would suggest a return to the skipper role is not far away either: Should the Czechs make it to the World Cup finals via the qualification route then it would be a perfect cap Soucek’s illustrious career to play at the finals.
Czech Republic v Ireland, Thursday 7.45pm,
TV=Prime Pay per view.£2.49. Bleurgh.