West Ham warrior Tomas Soucek shows his gruesome battle scars after Poland’s Jan Bednarek caught him in the head while clearing the ball… after Czech captain’s goal took them a step closer to Euro 2024

• WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Soucek was caught in the forehead as Bednarek swung to clear the ball away 
• Czech Republic midfielder needed to be bandaged up but completed the game 
• Southgate’s loyalty to his players is an issue and a weakness – It’s All Kicking Off 

West Ham star Tomas Soucek has showed off his battle wounds after being booted in the head during the Czech Republic’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Poland.

The Czech captain was caught on the forehead by Southampton defender Jan Bednarek as he swung his leg to clear the ball during Friday night’s encounter in Warsaw.

Soucek had to be bandaged up but was able to complete the match having earlier scored what could prove to be a crucial equalising goal in the 1-1 draw.

The Czechs will qualify for next year’s tournament in Germany if they avoid defeat at home to Moldova in their final qualifier in Olomouc on Monday night.

A post on the national team’s official Instagram account showed the nasty scars left on Soucek’s forehead although the midfielder appeared to be in good spirits.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT 

Tomas Soucek showed off his battle scars after taking a blow to the forehead during the Czech Republic’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Poland on Friday night

The West Ham midfielder was on the ground when Jan Bednarek caught him with his boot

Soucek was patched up by the medical staff and was able to complete the qualifier in Warsaw 

Blood poured from Soucek’s forehead wound after taking the blow in Friday’s qualifying game

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They captioned the post ‘bojovnik’, which translates as ‘warrior’.

While Soucek was being hailed for his fighting spirit, his West Ham team-mate Vladimir Coufal and two others have been sent home from the squad for partying until the early hours.

Coufal, Jakub Brabec and Jan Kuchta visited a nightclub in Olomouc on Saturday night in violation of squad rules.

Czech news outlet iSport details how the trio – along with Czech football association executive Tomas Neumann – partied at the Belmondo nightclub until the early hours.

iSport said they were drinking alcohol with photographs and videos emerging which showed Coufal, Kuchta and Brabec in the nightclub.

A statement by the Czech FA read: ‘Three players fundamentally violated the internal rules of the national team on Saturday night.

‘Jakub Brabec, Vladimir Coufal and Jan Kuchta have left the national team meeting with immediate effect by the decision of the management.’

West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal (left) is among three Czech Republic players sent home from the squad after breaking rules by visiting a nightclub until the early hours

Soucek scored the equaliser for the Czechs to boost their chances of making Euro 2024

They will qualify if they avoid defeat at home to Moldova in their final game on Monday night

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