As the Premier League pause concludes, West Ham United's squad have been involved in a mix of triumph and frustration on the international stage, providing plenty of talking points for fans.
Hammers' Mixed Fortunes in International Fixtures
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek experienced a bittersweet outing with the Czech Republic. In a friendly match against San Marino in Karviná, Soucek found the net, securing a 1-0 victory for his national side. However, the match was not without its setback, as the Hammers' stalwart also missed a penalty during the game.
Reflecting on the performance, Soucek expressed his regret, stating, "I'm happy with the result, but I wanted us to score more goals, and I think we had chances to do that. I didn't score a penalty, and I'm sorry about that. Overall, we have to be more effective in front of goal, and we'll try to do that in our next game."
Wan-Bissaka's World Cup Hopes Stay Alive
In a tense World Cup qualifier, West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka played the full 90 minutes for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The crucial match against Cameroon at the Al Barid Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, remained deadlocked at 0-0 after full-time, pushing the semi-final of the CAF qualifying second round into extra time.
DR Congo ultimately secured a dramatic 1-0 victory with a late goal, keeping their hopes of reaching the World Cup firmly alive. Wan-Bissaka's involvement for the entire match was a significant contribution to this vital win.
Bowlen Benched as England Secure Victory
Meanwhile, West Ham attacker and club captain Jarrod Bowen was an unused substitute for England in their 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Serbia at Wembley. The Three Lions' goals came from Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze.
With England having already qualified for the upcoming World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, manager Thomas Tuchel opted for other options in attack. Bowen will be hoping for minutes in England's next fixture, an away trip to Albania.
Following the Serbia match, Tuchel commented on the challenge, saying, "It was a difficult match. It was complicated because they knew everything about us and we knew nothing about them... I liked the first half a lot. We had to overcome some difficult moments but I like it, not everything is easy."
Focus Returns to Premier League Survival Battle
The international break provided a distraction, but focus now swiftly returns to domestic matters. West Ham currently sit in the Premier League drop zone alongside Nottingham Forest and Wolves after their first 11 fixtures, separated from safety only by goal difference.
However, there is renewed optimism at the London Stadium following a 3-2 victory over Burnley in their last outing, with goals from Callum Wilson, Tomas Soucek, and Kyle Walker-Peters. This result marked a second consecutive win for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
The Hammers aim to maintain this momentum when they return to action with an away trip to face AFC Bournemouth next weekend.
