West Ham midfielder Tomáš Souček
West Ham midfielder Tomáš Souček
West Ham United star Tomáš Souček has insisted he will continue to fight for the Czech Republic, even while he continues to be hit with personal setbacks.
IDNES report on the West Ham midfielder today after he proved his worth again in the win over the Republic of Ireland.
A choice that stung
For seven years, Tomáš Souček was untouchable in the Czech national teams starting XI. For five of those years, he wore the captain’s armband as well. He played everything, even the friendlies which most player would skip.
But on the night when World Cup qualification was on the line, against Ireland on Thursday, he was left on the bench.
That was a decision he admits stung. But the West Ham man didn’t sulk, he stood up.
“It was not about me, but about the team… They can take my armband, but they can’t take my heart,” he said.
A tactical squeeze
Coach Ivan Koubek even admitted he had gambled for the game. But he was left impressed by the manner in which Tomáš Souček took the blow.
“Yes, I took a risk. I explained it to him, he accepted it as a professional. Everything is fine,” he said.
With the Czech’s trailing 1-2 at halftime, though, the plan had to change. Souček was called upon to change things around, and he did.
The West Ham man was firmly part of the comeback win, winning duels, blocking shots and dominating the aerial duels. It did not go unnoticed. New captain Ladislav Krejčí was full of praise afterwards.
“He showed that he is a personality and a great player with a huge character,” he said.
“When we needed him, he came into the game. Then he goes for the penalty and converts it.”
That was echoed by striker Jan Kliment. “Suk was excellent. Tomáš proved how valuable he is for the team.”
One step from history
The Czech Republic now face Denmark in Tuesday’s play‑off final in Prague and the chance to reach their first World Cup in 20 years. Tomáš Souček knows what’s at stake:
“We know that we have one more match to go down in history. We will do our best to advance. Denmark is a much better opponent.”
The win over Ireland, though, was a big one for the West Ham man. His ego was undoubtedly bruised after losing the captaincy and being dropped to the bench.
But rather than sulking, he provided a defining response. In the end, he didn’t just help save the night either, he reminded everyone why at 31-years-old he is still the heartbeat for his national side.
🇧🇷 Gonzalo Plata | Nightclubs before matches, sneaking women into hotels
⚠️ West Ham target sounds chaos
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✅ …sign him immediately ‼️https://t.co/jnZ00S2tRN #whufc #coyi
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) March 27, 2026