In the 2020-21 season, the Hammers didn’t play in any European competition. They didn’t qualify after finishing 16th in the previous season.
West Ham United’s sixth-place Premier League finish last season secured a place in the UEFA Europa League group stage for the first time in the club’s history.
Previous appearances in this tournament had resulted in being knocked out in the qualifying stages.
Previous Results In Europe
In 1965, they won the European Cup Winners Cup, and in 1999 the Intertoto Cup. They have also competed in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League as recent as this season.
Outside of major competitions, the club took part in the Anglo-Italian League Cup in 1975-76, and the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1992-93.
First European Game
West Ham won the their first European game 0-2 away against Dinamo Zagreb. It was the Hammers first European fixture since losing in qualifying last season to Astra Giurgiu.
Michail Antonio scored West Ham’s first goal after pouncing on a mistake by Kevin Theophile-Catherine before rounding the keeper and finishing into an empty net.
Five minutes into the second half Rice doubled the Hammers lead. Declan Rice ran from deep in midfield before a left-footed finish past Dominik Livakovic.
David Moyes was pleased with the new players performances when speaking to the BBC in the post match interview “I’m really excited about the prospect of slightly not knowing how good they could be. We brought in some new players tonight and didn’t look any worse for it.”
How It Helped West Ham
Playing in Europe helped West Ham because they were able to sign Europa League quality players Kurt Zouma and Nikola Vlasic.
Signing players of that quality will give them an even better chance of being successful in the tournament beyond the group stages.
Playing in Europe helped West Ham loan a goalkeeper the quality of Alphonse Areola from Paris Saint Germain. Alphonse Areola has know how of Europe having played in the Champions League for Paris Saint Germain.
For the 2021-21 season, group stage participation in the Europa League awarded a base fee of $3,630,000. A victory in the group pays $630,000 and a draw $210,000. Also, each group winner earns $1,100,000 and each runner-up $550,000.
What The Fans Think
West Ham fan Finlay Jackson believes being in Europe means “A lot because we have never been in Europe this is the first opportunity I have seen us in Europe.”
He also believes it makes them ambitious because it “Gives us the ambition to be there again. It makes us know what we want to be aiming for.”
West Ham fan Kris Hollidge feels playing in Europe has benefits such as “Extra revenue, attracts better players, and means a lot as first time we have qualified for the group stage and also for later knock out stages of a new format which in turn adds a feel good factor. Winning is a habit which when continues gives the team confidence.”
Below is audio of what West Ham fans had to say on the teams European adventure:
Results
19/09/2021 : Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 West Ham – West Ham United got off to the perfect start in this season’s UEFA Europa League after goals from Michail Antonio and Declan Rice gave them three impressive points at Dinamo Zagreb.
Zagreb qualified after losing 3-0 on aggregate to Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League Playoff round. Dinamo Zagreb qualified for the Champions League Playoff round after finishing 1st in the Prva HNL.
21/10/2021 : West Ham 3-0 Genk – Craig Dawson, Issa Diop and Jarrod Bowen were on target to make it a perfect three wins from three in Europe for West Ham United.
The Hammers had too much for Belgian Cup winners KRC Genk, winning 3-0 to extend their lead at the head of UEFA Europa League Group H.
04/11/2021 : Genk 2-2 West Ham – In a see-saw game, Genk led early through Joseph Paintsil, before Saïd Benrahma’s double put the Hammers in front. Tomáš Souček’s unfortunate late own goal meant the points would be shared.
Genk qualified after losing 4-2 on aggregate to Shakhtar Donetsk in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. They clinched 4th in the previous season to ensure qualification for the Champions League Playoffs.
30/09/2021 : West Ham 2-0 Rapid Wien – Goals from Declan Rice and Saïd Benrahma gave West Ham United a 2-0 victory over Rapid Vienna in their home UEFA Europa League Group H opener.
Rapid Wien qualified after losing 3-2 on aggregate to Sparta Prague in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. They clinched 2nd in the previous season to ensure qualification for the Champions League Playoffs.
Feature Image credit : Alex Smith
