West Ham United are set to see a number of their key players compete at the grandest stage of them all later this year at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Hammers’ recent rise of form in the last couple of years and dealings in the transfer market has seen them acquire a number of top international stars, with David Moyes’ side set to get a taste of that when there is an international break later this month, with Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta already called up for his country later this month.
While Italy, Czech Republic and Jamaica were among the countries to miss out on qualification, ensuring some of the Hammers’ top stars will not be on international duty across November and December, as many as nine of the Irons’ squad could represent their country this winter at the tournament.
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Group B sees England face the United States of America, Iran and Wales. Midfielder and club captain Declan Rice has been a regular in the Three Lions’ squad in recent years while Jarrod Bowen also earned his first call-up for his country in the last set of international fixtures in June.
France are in Group D and have two players in the West Ham squad hoping to play a part in the tournament. The Hammers’ back-up goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is a France regular and despite winning only three caps, has been on the bench in 51 other games for his country, including each of France’s last eight games. Centre-back Kurt Zouma has also played for France in recent times and played in three of their five most recent qualifiers for the tournament. However, he did not make their last squad in June.
There could be an outside chance of a call-up in Group E for Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals. The attacking midfielder won four of his six caps to date last season and scored in a win over Kosovo last year, but was left out of Spain’s last two squads in March and June of this year.
Also in Group E are Germany where summer signing Thilo Kehrer is one of the most likely players to get a call-up. The German defender has won more minutes under current boss Hansi Flick than any other manager since his arrival, meaning Kehrer is almost a certainty to play at the tournament.
Group F also has the prospect of a double West Ham inclusion from across two different countries. Defender Nayef Aguerd, who joined from Stade Rennais for £30milion, has never played for the Hammers competitively due to an ankle injury but is due to return at the back end of October. Should he return to fitness, he could represent Morocco in the World Cup, having played in nine of his country’s last ten games. Also in the same group is Croatian midfielder Nikola Vlasic, currently on loan at Torino. Vlasic has played in 34 of Croatia’s last 36 international matches.
In Group G, Brazil are competing where midfielder Lucas Paqueta is almost a certain call-up for his country at this year’s World Cup and has already been called up by manager Tite for their matches against Ghana and Tunisia later this month in France.
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