Even Soucek’s physicality has its limits, or the captain’s 62nd game of the season was marked by fatigue

At home against Spain he played his 50th national team match, in the away game he played for the 66th time this season and fatigue showed. Yes, for marathon runner Tomáš Souček, who regularly runs the most kilometres of the Czech national team.

Jaroslav Šilhavý held the basic skeleton of the team at the national team meeting in June and gave the rest about one or two games. Five players made four starts, defenders Jakub Brabec and David Zima, midfielders Tomas Soucek and Michal Sadilek and forward Jan Kuchta.

While Soucek is used to a heavy workload, the other four didn’t have such a solid position in the squad before this game. Sadilek may have paid the price in Malaga, where he was injured in the 30th minute and had to be substituted.

Soucek played the whole game, even though it was his 62nd game of the season. With so much to do, the question logically arises, was there fatigue on the West Ham midfielder? And the truth is that on Sunday, yes.

Already during the national anthem, Soucek looked really exhausted and his performance on the pitch from the first minute suggested that. He didn’t have the light feet we are used to with him, the arrival of the fresh Alex King made the 62 games even more noticeable. Basically, he was not visible, even when defending.

The question in the post-match interview for CT Sport was also directed at fatigue. The captain of the national team replied with a classically modest answer.

“Even if a hundred games were played this year and then the national team was on holiday, the player needs to go. To represent is the greatest honour, it’s something special and no club compares to it. That’s the basis. Those who don’t want to represent should retire. It’s an honour for every player, ” Soucek said after the loss to Spain.

Soucek, like the rest of the national team, will now have a post-season break, but it is unlikely to be too long. Premier League matches are relentless and West Ham will have their first friendly on July 12.

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