Czech Republic boss says Tomas Soucek still key player despite not being captain

By Damian Spellman, Press Association, Prague

Czech Republic boss Miroslav Koubek has insisted “full-fat” Tomas Soucek remains a key player for his country despite being stripped of the captaincy.

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.

However, Koubek, who himself took over from Ivan Hasek as head coach in December, still counts Soucek among his most important players ahead of Thursday night’s World Cup play-off semi-final against the Republic of Ireland in Prague.

He 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.”

Soucek’s removal as captain has prompted speculation in the Czech media that he could even lose his place in the team, although Koubek remained coy over his team selection.

The 74-year-old said: “I don’t read the newspapers, so I don’t know. You will see tomorrow.”

Koubek’s side will welcome Ireland to the Fortuna Arena, the home of domestic champions Slavia Prague, knowing they will have to find a way to stop in-from striker Troy Parrott, who scored five goals in his country’s last two qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary to get them to the play-offs.

Asked about his analysis of Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team, he said: “One thing I noticed: they put a lot heart into their game. Ireland will definitely be a very tough opponent.

“But we will have a similar mindset, it will be a hard match, definitely.

“As for Parrott, he is outstanding, he is doing great. He is very fit, we know how he works. We do have some information, so now it will all be about eliminating him in a smart way. We will just have to stop him.”

Krejci, however, has little doubt that it will be he and his team-mates who ultimately fight it out with either Denmark of North Macedonia for a trip to the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.

He said: “We will make it. We will reach our goal. We will qualify for the World Cup.”

For Koubek, the game will be the first of his reign and even after a coaching career spanning more than 40 years, most recently at Vikotria Plzen, he admits there will be some nerves.

He said: “I am not nervous today, but I will definitely be nervous tomorrow when I wake up, and it is a good thing, all the emotions and the thrills and all the nerves and stress.

“I am an elderly person, so I would lie if I said I didn’t feel anything like that. But it is positive.”