The West Ham midfielder was seen suffering in a shocking incident during the World Cup match between Czech Republic and Mexico. The 31-year-old player suffered a serious injury there.
Tomas Soucek was injured trying to contain the Mexican shot-stopper (Image: Getty Images)
Tomas Soucek appeared to suffer a serious knee injury during the Czech Republic’s 3-0 loss to World Cup hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. The incident occurred when Soucek tried to stop record-setting Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
The midfielder appeared to roll his ankle underneath and collapsed in agony, causing players to rush to his aid. As medical staff sprinted onto the pitch, referee Yael Falcon Perez immediately stopped play.
The 31-year-old Soucek eventually managed to hobble out and be carried off the sideline on a stretcher for further examination. The defeat ensured Czech Republic’s exit from the tournament, leaving them bottom of Group A with one point, with hosts Mexico in first place.
Attention will now turn to the condition of West Ham’s key player Soucek. The possibility of a long-term absence would be a major blow to the London club’s bid for promotion to the Premier League, but no official diagnosis has yet been announced.
Soucek and his teammates endured a difficult season at the London Stadium, with Tottenham surviving relegation while West Ham were relegated to the Championship on the final day. It was the first time in 15 years that the Hammers were unable to escape hardship for large parts of a season, and despite a 3-0 win over Leeds their fate was sealed.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side should have beaten Leeds and Spurs should have lost to Everton, but that didn’t happen and Joao Parinha’s wicked rebound from a corner proved the winning goal.
Thomas Soucek was taken for treatment.
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Although his contract runs until the summer of 2027, speculation swirls over his future. Soucek was reluctant to discuss his pre-World Cup situation when asked ahead of the Czech Republic’s friendly against Guatemala earlier this month.
“We’re sorry, we’re here with the players and we’re fully focused on the World Cup right now,” Soucek said via Livesport. “We are going to play a big game in the World Cup, it has been a dream for several years and now we are here.
“What will happen with the club will happen after some time off. Now I am completely ready for the Czech national team. I have put last season aside and am 100 percent dedicated to the national team. I now have a month to clear my head.”
It was a short journey for Soucek and others in the tournament, but it ended on a pretty bitter note as he was potentially seriously injured.
Goalkeeper Ochoa, 40, also made history by becoming Mexico’s sixth player to be selected for the World Cup. He made his final appearance in the 78th minute, giving the Aztec crowd a fitting farewell.
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