'Full-fat Soucek can help Czechia beat Ireland': Czech manager Koubek talks up under-fire veteran

Soucek has been a constant in the side for nine years but was stripped of the captaincy after being held responsible by his federation for the team’s failure to applaud fans after beating Gibraltar 6-0 in November

CONSTANT: Czechia's Tomas Soucek (centre) and team-mates during a training session at EC Eden training pitch next to the Fortuna Arena in Prague. Pic: Adam Davy/PA

New Czechia manager Miroslav Koubek insists he can rely on “full-fat” Tomás Soucek as speculation intensifies about the West Ham United midfielder being dropped for the World Cup playoff semi-final against Ireland.

Soucek (31) has been a constant in the Czechia side for nine years but he was stripped of the captaincy after being held responsible by his federation for the team’s failure to applaud fans after beating Gibraltar 6-0 in November.