West Ham fan and talkSPORT presenter Ian 'Moose' Abrahams looks at the performances of Hammers at the Euros
While one Hammer was eliminated from UEFA Euro 2016 at the weekend, another three progressed to the quarter-final stage. West Ham supporter and talkSPORT presenter Ian ‘Moose’ Abrahams is out in France and gave his verdict on the competition so far…
When two Hammers faced each other in a UEFA Euro 2016 knockout stage fixture at the weekend, it was a great occasion.
In the battle between hosts France and the Republic of Ireland, Dimitri Payet may have come out on top in terms of Les Bleus winning and going through, but I actually thought that Darren Randolph had a better game – he was superb and it was one of Dimitri’s quieter performances.
After Ireland’s elimination, Darren can certainly come out the tournament with his head held high. He has shown that he’s absolutely at home on the international stage and none of the goals he conceded during the tournament he could do anything about. If the stopper manages to keep up that sort of form, he’ll be pushing Adrian for a spot in the West Ham team.
Everyone in the Irish squad is obviously disappointed, but Darren put it across really well after the game when he said that they’ve had a fantastic time here. Nobody gave them a prayer of qualifying from their group.
The Italy win will remain with all of them for as long as they live. Without a question of doubt, Darren has had a fantastic tournament and can certainly look back on his time in France with a great deal of pride.
When two Hammers faced each other in a UEFA Euro 2016 knockout stage fixture at the weekend, it was a great occasion.
In the battle between hosts France and the Republic of Ireland, Dimitri Payet may have come out on top in terms of Les Bleus winning and going through, but I actually thought that Darren Randolph had a better game – he was superb and it was one of Dimitri’s quieter performances.
After Ireland’s elimination, Darren can certainly come out the tournament with his head held high. He has shown that he’s absolutely at home on the international stage and none of the goals he conceded during the tournament he could do anything about. If the stopper manages to keep up that sort of form, he’ll be pushing Adrian for a spot in the West Ham team.
Everyone in the Irish squad is obviously disappointed, but Darren put it across really well after the game when he said that they’ve had a fantastic time here. Nobody gave them a prayer of qualifying from their group.
The Italy win will remain with all of them for as long as they live. Without a question of doubt, Darren has had a fantastic tournament and can certainly look back on his time in France with a great deal of pride.
As for the hosts, I don’t think they have really got going in any of their games so far and they’ve relied heavily on Payet to produce. He’s certainly delivered. As West Ham fans will testify, he’s a fantastic footballer who gets you off his seat, and he can win a game on his own. Against Ireland, it perhaps just wasn’t his day, however.
France are still up there as one of the favourites to win, but I think you have to look at the Germans, who haven’t conceded a goal yet, and the Belgians as tournament contenders too.
Another Hammers man still at the Euros is obviously James Collins with Wales. I think it will be fantastic if Ginge gets on the pitch at some point for The Dragons. He certainly should have come on the other day, when Ashley Williams was injured and Chris Coleman wanted to make the change.
Conflicting reports say it could be either nothing or a serious injury for Williams, so we don’t know. Either way, Ginge would love to get on the pitch against Belgium in what will be an extremely tough game, but he wouldn’t let Wales down in any way, shape or form.
He would do his family, friends and country proud and it would be a great moment of his career if he can have some time in the team.
He’d be up against players like Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard who he faces in the Premier League week-in, week-out, so there’s no doubt he could handle it. I spoke to Ginge before he came out here and he was really looking forward to it, and it will be a huge high of his career, as is the case with the other West Ham players.
I spoke to Angelo Ogbonna, who has thoroughly enjoyed his time out here, too. Italy are flying high after beating Spain and in general, it has been a superb tournament for the Hammers out there so far, and it could get even better.
France are still up there as one of the favourites to win, but I think you have to look at the Germans, who haven’t conceded a goal yet, and the Belgians as tournament contenders too.
Another Hammers man still at the Euros is obviously James Collins with Wales. I think it will be fantastic if Ginge gets on the pitch at some point for The Dragons. He certainly should have come on the other day, when Ashley Williams was injured and Chris Coleman wanted to make the change.
Conflicting reports say it could be either nothing or a serious injury for Williams, so we don’t know. Either way, Ginge would love to get on the pitch against Belgium in what will be an extremely tough game, but he wouldn’t let Wales down in any way, shape or form.
He would do his family, friends and country proud and it would be a great moment of his career if he can have some time in the team.
He’d be up against players like Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard who he faces in the Premier League week-in, week-out, so there’s no doubt he could handle it. I spoke to Ginge before he came out here and he was really looking forward to it, and it will be a huge high of his career, as is the case with the other West Ham players.
I spoke to Angelo Ogbonna, who has thoroughly enjoyed his time out here, too. Italy are flying high after beating Spain and in general, it has been a superb tournament for the Hammers out there so far, and it could get even better.