DBasia.news – Czechoslovakia is a country that was once respected when it comes to European football, but after it broke into the Czech Republic their strength was eroded and the Czechs did not have a big tradition of football like Czechoslovakia.
However, there are big names who have graced the Czech Republic such as Petr Cech, Milan Baros, Jan Koller, Tomas Ujfalusi, Zdenek Grygera, Marek Jankulovski, Pavel Nedved, to Tomas Rosicky.
All of that graced the Czech Republic squad in the early 2000s. Since Rosicky retired in 2016 with the Czech Republic national team, there has not been much attention, understand that there are not many stars that can be discussed.
The Czech Republic’s game is more collective with an even squad quality. All these perceptions about the Czech Republic have slowly changed since Tomas Soucek made his name in Europe with his good form with West Ham United.
Uniquely, Tomas Soucek has only strengthened the national team since 2016 in the year Tomas Rosicky or the player nicknamed Little Mozart retired. Soucek seemed destined to continue the baton of the former Arsenal attacking midfielder.
Both midfielders but different styles of play
Soucek cannot be compared to Rosicky. If Rosicky is known for his elegant style of play, arranging attacks with the vision of playing, then Soucek is more of a bang in midfield. A ‘machine’.
“Soucek has a great machine, he can go up and down and can score goals – he scores the equalizer and the second goal is a brilliant piece of individual skill,” said TalkSPORT host Jason Cundy about Soucek’s form after West Ham’s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace last January.
Soucek is like the Manchester United legend Park Ji-sung who is called the ‘man of three lungs’ because of his playing energy and ability to comb the midfield.
In England it’s a typical game called box to box: a midfielder who is busy because he can defend as well as rise to help attack. That’s Tomas Soucek.
“When we talk about box to box midfielders, there is nothing better in the Premier League today than Soucek,” said football pundit Jamie Carragher.
“The goals really stand out – it’s huge for a midfield player and is a big reason why West Ham are where they are now.”
West Ham this season under the direction of David Moyes is peeking into the Champions League zone. Soucek is the key to the Hammers’ midfield strength with Declan Rice.
The statistics in the Premier League say a lot about the former Slavia Prague player. This season Soucek has scored nine goals in 29 appearances, and from the defensive side, he is no less impressive.
Soucek won the air ball duel 165 times, 263 won the ball duel, 48 per cent tackle success, 49 attempted kicks and 19 of them were right on target.
Recently his name was discussed again with a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup Qualifier against Estonia in the Czech Republic’s 6-2 victory. Soucek became the first player to score three or more goals in a World Cup Qualifier after Milan Baros. It was also his first international hat-trick.
West Ham borrowed him in January 2020 and then permanent his contract for £19 million from Slavic Prague. With that fund West Ham got a quality midfielder who now has a market of around £40 million.
The climax was Soucek was selected as the recipient of the Czech Republic Men’s Player of the Year award for the second time after 2019, lifting his name alongside Cech, Nedvez and Rosicky.
“I really appreciate it. The Player of the Year Poll is the biggest individual award in the Czech Republic and it is a great honor for me to win it for the second time in a row,” said Soucek.
“I’ve always been the one who appreciates team awards more, but teams are made up of individuals. I am very happy that people chose me and I thank them for that.”
Keep it low and keep your way, Tomas Soucek.