MY ACCOUNT
West Ham face an uphill task at Eintract Frankfurt tonight — but the Hammers have what it takes to turn their Europa League semi-final tie around.
David Moyes’ men trail 2-1 after the first leg in East London, so will need a tactical masterclass from their experienced manager if they are to reach the final later this month.
The Irons had chances in last week’s encounter and will take inspiration from their comprehensive away win against Lyon in the quarter-final.
Ahead of tonight’s second leg, here are five things that Moyes must do to secure victory in Germany.
Boost Bowen
Jarrod Bowen has been one of West Ham’s standout players this season.
The 25-year-old is arguably their most effective attacking weapon and leads the club’s scoring charts with 16 goals in all competitions.
He has already struck three times in the Europa League — and adding to that tally will be key to the Hammers’ chances of progressing.
Moyes acknowledged that the forward’s impact could be crucial when speaking after Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal.
He said: “He had opportunities [against Frankfurt], the chance with one hitting the post and the other hitting the underside of the bar.
“Let’s hope we can just get that little bit of things that are going slightly against us to turn because we need it.”
Set-piece improvement
West Ham have been renowned for their attacking set-piece prowess since Moyes took over, but they did not hit their usual heights from free-kicks and corners last week.
The experienced manager pointed out as much in his post-match news conference.
He said: “I thought tonight was the worst for two years as far as set-pieces were going.
“You couldn’t ever question us for our set-pieces at the moment, it’s been a really strong part of our game. But tonight we were really weak with it.”
Improving their delivery from dead-ball situations could be key to the Irons’ chances of breaching Frankfurt’s rearguard.
Keep Antonio in the goals
Michail Antonio’s goal in the first leg was his first Europa League strike since scoring against Dinamo Zagreb last September.
And the Jamaica international’s league form has not been much better, having only found the net once in 2022 — on New Year’s Day at Crystal Palace.
His hold-up play and off the ball work are equally important to West Ham’s cause — but Moyes needs his striker’s name on the scoresheet more frequently.
The 32-year-old is ultimately reliant on service from the team’s full-backs and support from midfield.
If the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Manuel Lanzini and Pablo Fornals can consistently deliver balls into the box, Antonio could hit the goal trail once again in Frankfurt.
Dominant Dawson
Craig Dawson has been an unlikely hero at the back for West Ham — so much so that he has been dubbed ‘Ballon Dawson’ by supporters.
Despite being a less glamorous signing than fellow defenders Kurt Zouma, Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna, the former West Brom centre-back has starred for the Irons since arriving from Watford — initially on loan — in October 2020.
An injury to Ogbonna saw the 31-year-old become a regular starter and he has not looked back.
Dawson made a vital block from a Daichi Kamada shot in the first leg and will need to be just as alert to stop the Germans increasing their lead this evening.
Take their chances
West Ham edged possession in the first leg and also managed more shots than Frankfurt.
They also created a greater number of chances (12) and big chances (four) than their German opponents, despite Oliver Glasner’s unit managing to score from both of their significant opportunities.
Bowen missed a number of chances to score, while Fornals and Tomas Soucek also came close to finding the net.
The Hammers will be boosted by the number of openings they created at the London Stadium and if they make more of them tonight, then progress to the final could well be on the cards.
