West Ham fans have been focused on the Premier League run, especially in view of West Ham’s current precarious position. However, the last round of qualification games took place with a Czechia vs Denmark match, a “Tomas Soucek vs Mads Hermansen” shootout for a World Cup final place.
Soucek Scores as Czechia Win on Penalties
Soucek’s side ran out winners following a 2-2 draw and penalties. The Danes missed three penalties whilst Soucek stepped up to score his own spot kick past his West Ham team mate. Hermansen managed one save but the Danes floundered, missing three kicks to send Czechia through.
This sets up a last hurrah on the worlds biggest stage for Soucek, now 31.
Soucek’s Journey Back to the Starting Lineup
Having been stripped of the captaincy and even removed from the starting line up for his national side ahead of the semi final, Soucek showed his humility by declaring “It was not about me, but about the team,” he said. He added, “They can take my armband, but they can’t take my heart” after stepping up from the bench to score in his side’s semi final shootout win against the Republic of Ireland.
Czechia’s national boss Miroslav Koubek realised the error of his ways in benching the veteran, and recalled Soucek for the final.
Defying the Odds
Defying the odds again by coming back after being discarded, the midfielder played the whole 120 minutes before slotting home the second penalty as his team mates watched on from the half way line. Many had written him off.
It’ll be a fitting career highlight for Tornado Tom.
Hoping sincerely that his World Cup swan song follows on West Ham’s great escape 2.0: Now that’d be a summer to look back on.