‘Suk’ and ‘Cuf’ are back in London

Prague – Two East Londoners, Tomas Soucek (right) and Vladimir Coufal, are set to return home as they lead the Czech Republic against England in Euro 2020 at Wembley today.

Nicknamed “Suk” and “Cuf”, the two former Slavia Prague players were behind West Ham’s spectacular rise in the Premier League last season.

And although they have been somewhat overshadowed by striker Patrik Schick and his three goals at the Euro, including his wonder shot from near halfway against Scotland, they are indispensable for Czech Republic coach Jaroslav Silhavy.

Conditioned by tough training standards at Slavia, who have won the Czech league three times in the past four years, both Soucek and Coufal are in the tournament’s top 10 in terms of distance covered.

One of the Premier League’s most tireless runners, Soucek was second on the list with 23.4 kilometres after two games, while Coufal’s 22.5 km’s put him in ninth.

Defensive midfielder Soucek, who takes over the captain’s armband from Vladimir Darida whenever the skipper is substituted, is a solid wall in front of the Czech defence.

At Wembley, he will have a special motivation facing his West Ham team-mate Declan Rice in the England midfield.

“That match will be a special moment for West Ham supporters,” the 26-year-old Soucek said before the tournament.

“We’ve spoken about it – (Rice) told us that we can’t win at Wembley and we said, ‘Well, remember your last game against us!’” Soucek said, recalling a 2019 Euro qualifier in Prague won by the Czechs 2-1.

“It’s been fun, it’s been friendly. Only the 90 minutes on the pitch will be unfriendly, perhaps,” added the lanky midfielder.

His brilliant season saw Soucek shortlisted for the Player-of-the-Season award, eventually won by Ruben Dias of Manchester City.

Indefatigable on the right flank, Coufal, who is now 28-years-old, set up Schick for the first goal against Scotland with a perfect cross, and then also took on Croatia’s Ivan Perisic in the next game.