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How West Ham United players including Michail Antonio, Tomas Soucek fared on international duty

Sports Mole round up which West Ham United players were in action for their respective nations during November's international break.

David Moyes will welcome back the 11 first-team players to his West Ham United side who have been representing their country during November's international break.

Seven of those players were spread out across Europe, while Michail Antonio, Said Benrahma and Arthur Masuaku travelled to Central America and Africa respectively.

Here, Sports Mole round up which Hammers players were in action for their respective nations and how they fared on international duty.


Czech Republic: Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal, Alex Kral

Czech Republic's Tomas Soucek pictured on June 4, 2021© Reuters

Results:
November 11: Czech Republic 7-0 Kuwait – World Cup qualifier (Andruv stadion, Olomouc)
November 16: Czech Republic 2-0 Estonia – World Cup qualifier (Generali Arena, Prague)

Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek both played the full 90 minutes in the seven-goal drubbing of Kuwait, with the latter scoring his eighth international goal in the 56th minute. Alex Kral, meanwhile, came on in the 61st minute to partner Soucek in midfield.

Despite claiming all three points against Estonia five days later, the Czechs could only finish third in Group E behind Belgium and Wales. However, they had already secured their World Cup playoff place after winning their group in the Nations League earlier this year.

After playing 21 consecutive matches across all competitions for the national team, Soucek was an unused substitute in Prague, while Coufal and Kral both started, with the latter brought off on the hour mark.


France: Kurt Zouma, Alphonse Areola

France's Kurt Zouma in action with Finland's Joel Pohjanpalo on September 7, 2021© Reuters

Results:
November 13: France 8-0 Kazakhstan – World Cup qualifier (Parc des Princes, Paris)
November 16: Finland 0-2 France – World Cup qualifier (Olympic Stadium, Helsinki)

World champions France sailed through their qualification campaign unbeaten in Group D and completed their round of fixtures with two comfortable wins against Kazakhstan and Finland.

Kurt Zouma was an unused substitute for their eight-goal victory in Paris, but made his 11th international appearance in Helsinki.

The 25-year-old impressed for the full 90 minutes in a three-man defence with an 89% pass completion rate and six aerial duels won, four more than any other player on the pitch. Alphonse Areola, meanwhile, was an unused substitute for both matches.


Spain: Pablo Fornals

Spain's Pablo Fornals and Pablo Sarabia celebrate on September 5, 2021© Reuters

Results:
November 11: Greece 0-1 Spain – World Cup qualifier (Olympic Stadium, Athens)
November 14: Spain 1-0 Sweden – World Cup qualifier (Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville)

Spain managed to finished top of Group B and book their place at the 2022 World Cup, after claiming two narrow victories against Greece and Sweden.

Pablo Fornals did not feature in their final qualifier, but earned his sixth international cap when he came off the bench in the 65th minute against Greece, replacing Alvaro Morata.

The 25-year-old, who scored his first senior goal for Spain in September, was unable to make an impact for the national side this month, but will be hoping his club form can be enough to keep a place in Luis Enrique's squad for next year's tournament in Qatar.


Croatia: Nikola Vlasic

Croatia's Nikola Vlasic in action with Slovakia's Erik Jirka on October 11, 2021© Reuters

Results:
November 11: Malta 1-7 Croatia – World Cup qualifier (National Stadium, Ta'Qali)
November 14: Croatia 1-0 Russia – World Cup qualifier (Stadion Poljud, Split)

2018 World Cup finalists Croatia booked their place at next year's tournament in Qatar after claiming a maximum six points from their final two qualifiers, including three crucial points in a Group H decider for top spot against Russia.

Nikola Vlasic came on for Luka Modric in the 54th minute against Malta when the score was 6-1 to the visitors, before making his 33rd international appearance in Split, playing for 58 minutes on the right side of a three-man attack.

The 24-year-old, who has failed to provide a goal contribution in each of his last four appearances for Croatia, is also yet to get off the mark for the Hammers since his arrival in the summer, but the attacking midfielder will be hoping for more regular game time in the coming months when they face a busier fixture schedule.


Ukraine: Andriy Yarmolenko

Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko celebrates scoring their fourth goal with teammates on June 7, 2021© Reuters

Results:
November 11: Ukraine 1-1 Bulgaria – Friendly (Chornomorets Stadium, Odesa)
November 16: Bosnia-Herzegovina 0-2 Ukraine – World Cup qualifier (Bilino Polje, Zenica)

Ukraine's chances of qualifying for their first World Cup since 2006 remain alive after they sealed a playoff spot by finishing second in Group D, behind current world champions France at the summit.

Andriy Yarmolenko was unable to add to his 44 international goals, but he did play a crucial part in their opening goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina, as his 58th-minute effort from a tight angle was diverted into the path of Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko, who tapped in from close range.

The 31-year-old captain of Ukraine also played the full 90 minutes against Bulgaria, though he and his teammates were frustrated on home soil in the friendly encounter.


Jamaica: Michail Antonio

West Ham United's Michail Antonio celebrates scoring their second goal against Crystal Palace on August 28, 2021© Reuters

Results:
November 13: El Salvador 1-1 Jamaica – World Cup qualifier (Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador)
November 16: Jamaica 1-1 USA – World Cup qualifier (National Stadium, Kingston)

Although Jamaica were unable to secure a victory during this month's international break, Michail Antonio managed to continue his brilliant form in front of goal by scoring his first international goals for the Reggae Boyz.

The 31-year-old opened his account on his first start for the Caribbean outfit when his driving run towards El Salvador's backline finished with a sweet chip over goalkeeper Mario Martinez in the 82nd minute.

Antonio then netted his second Jamaica goal in spectacular fashion against the USA, rifling his effort from around 30 yards out into the top-right corner, beating American goalkeeper Zack Steffen all ends up to draw the Reggae Boyz level.

West Ham's number nine has never scored from outside the penalty area in the Premier League, but he can be proud of his blistering strike on home soil, and Hammers fans will be hoping his form can continue when they return to action this weekend against Wolverhampton Wanderers.


Algeria: Said Benrahma

West Ham United's Said Benrahma celebrates scoring against Leicester City on August 23, 2021© Reuters

Results:
November 12: Djibouti 0-4 Algeria – World Cup qualifier (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo)
November 16: Algeria 2-2 Burkina Faso – World Cup qualifier (Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida)

Said Benrahma scored his first international goal at the 13th attempt when he netted Algeria's second in a 4-0 victory against Djibouti.

The 26-year-old picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area and drilled his right-footed effort into the bottom right corner five minutes before half time.

After playing the full 90 minutes in Cairo, Benrahma made his 14th international appearance as a substitute, coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes against Burkina Faso. However, the skilful winger was unable to help the Greens claim all three points on home soil.

Nevertheless, Algeria topped Group A and have advanced into the final stage of African qualification for next year's tournament in Qatar.


DR Congo: Arthur Masuaku

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot in action with West Ham United's Arthur Masuaku on September 22, 2021© Reuters

Results:
November 11: Tanzania 0-3 DR Congo – World Cup qualifier (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo)
November 14: DR Congo 2-0 Benin – World Cup qualifier (Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida)

Like Algeria, DR Congo have also progressed into the next phase of African qualification, after securing two crucial victories against Tanzania and Benin.

After a spell plagued with injuries, Arthur Masuaku made his first international appearance in nearly two years when he was brought on as a substitute five minutes after half time in Cairo.

Masuaku then played the full 90 minutes against Benin, a game that DR Congo had to win to keep their World Cup hopes alive. The 28-year-old contributed to the first goal in Blida as his curling cross into the penalty area from the left flank forced Khaled Adenon to foul Dieumerci Mbokani, who converted the resulting spot kick in the 10th minute.

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