West Ham star Vladimir Coufal is absolutely furious with himself for adding insult to injury but he’s going a bit OTT.
It is fair to say it has been the international break from hell for West Ham and David Moyes.
Hammers attackers Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen have both picked up worrying knee injuries.
Mohammed Kudus has flown and played through back issues despite pleas from West Ham for Ghana not to select the £38m star boy.
Good old reliable Tomas Soucek was booted in the head sustaining a gruesome wound.
And, in an incident which shocked just about everyone connected with the Hammers, consummate professional Vladimir Coufal was banished from the Czech Republic squad for breaking team curfew rules by going nightclubbing
Coufal absolutely furious with himself
If it sounded out of character to West Ham fans then wait until you read what Coufal thinks of his actions.
West Ham star Coufal is absolutely furious with himself for adding insult to injury but he’s going a bit OTT.
While Moyes is left counting the cost of the international break injuries, Coufal was labelled a “disgrace” alongside two teammates in an incident which has resulted in the Czech Republic manager resigning despite leading the team to Euro 2024.
Now Coufal has publicly chastised himself over his decision to break team rules.
But he goes a touch over the top by our reckoning. Not only in his damning criticism of himself but also – with all due respect – a slightly exaggerated view of himself as a sportsman.
But it’s all a bit OTT
Coufal talks about regretting his actions for the rest of his life and violating his own principles.
And he then talks about being a role model for many children.
All very admirable and virtuous. But a sense of perspective is needed here. It was hardly the worst offence in the world and while on this night out Coufal is not alleged to have behaved badly or inappropriately.
Yes rules are rules but it’s not as if he is Cristiano Ronaldo and is in the spotlight of millions of impressionable youngsters.
For our money the West Ham right-back is being a little too harsh on himself with his comments made to Idnes, which you can read in full below.
“I am very happy that the Czech national team advanced to Euro 2024 yesterday,” West Ham defender Coufal said.
Sense of perspective needed
“I offer my hearty congratulations to everyone who participated in this. I made a huge mistake on Saturday, which I will regret for the rest of my life.
“For the first time in my life, I violated my own principles, which I believed in and strictly followed throughout my career. I know I was somewhere two days before the game where I had no business being.
“I have always relied on professional behaviour, which I have now violated. With this stupid mistake, I deprived myself of a wonderful experience with the team, which the promotion to the Euros undoubtedly is. Everyone who knows me knows that this is the highest punishment for me.
“I regret it all the more because I am a representative and a role model for many children, which has always been an honour for me. I appreciated it and I will do everything possible to make it so again in the future.
“I know I’ve let down a lot of people I care about, that’s the worst feeling for me. I have disappointed myself and my principles and the life path that I have been following for a very long time.”
