International drama took centre stage last night as three ‘home nations’ sides were all dispatched from the tournament, their World Cup qualification dreams over for another couple of years. Wales lost to Bosnia Herzegovina on penalties, Northern Ireland were beaten 2-0 by Italy and Ireland were dispatched by Tomas Soucek’s Czech Republic – despite racing into a two – goal lead, with Soucek stripped of the armband and benched.
Many managers have written off Soucek before: Belatedly, 2-0 down at half time, coach Miroslav Koubek called him from the substitutes bench and West Ham’s veteran midfielder stepped up for the national side in the same manner he’s done countless times for his club.
Soucek told CTSport:
“It wasn’t about me, but about the team”
And on his loss of the armband after not appearing to applaud Czech fans in Latvia:
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[This]” Was more of a political thing. I came here wanting to help the guys. I play for the Czech Republic. They can take my armband, but they can’t take my heart.”
And of course, Soucek stepped up for his nation to take a penalty against Ireland’s goal keeper Caoimhín Kelleher in an action replay of the FA Cup shootout that saw West Ham edge past Brentford.
Evidently Soucek’s practise really has paid off – he again beat the specialist ‘keeper to score from 12 yards and the Czechs ran out 4-3 winners in the shootout , setting up a final against Mads Hermansens‘ Denmark on Tuesday 31st March with a place in the summer World Cup finals for the winners.