SLOVAKIA
FIFA World Ranking: 36
Previous Best: Last 16 2016
Last 5 Euros (Latest first): L16-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ
How Qualified: Play-off Winners
Qualifying Record: P8 W4 D1 L3 F13 A11 GD2 Pts13
Play-offs: Slovakia 0-0 Ireland (4-2 on pens) Slovakia 2-1 N Ireland (AET)
Tournament Odds: 500/1
Squad
Goalkeepers: Martin Dúbravka (Newcastle), Dušan Kuciak (Lechia Gdańsk), Marek Rodák (Fulham)
Defenders: Dávid Hancko (Sparta Praha), Tomáš Hubočan (Omonoia), Martin Koscelník (Liberec), Peter Pekarík (Hertha Berlin), Ľubomír Šatka (Lech Poznań), Milan Škriniar (Inter Milan), Martin Valjent (Mallorca), Denis Vavro (Huesca)
Midfielders: László Bénes (Augsburg), Ondrej Duda (Köln), Ján Greguš (Minnesota), Marek Hamšík (IFK Göteborg), Lukáš Haraslín (Sassuolo), Jakub Hromada (Slavia Praha), Patrik Hrošovský (Genk), Juraj Kucka (Parma), Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli), Tomáš Suslov (Groningen), Vladimír Weiss (Slovan Bratislava)
Forwards: Róbert Boženík (Feyenoord), Michal Ďuriš (Omonoia), Róbert Mak (Ferencváros), Ivan Schranz (Jablonec)
Group Fixtures
June 14 vs Poland (5pm – St Petersburg)
June 18 vs Sweden (2pm – St Petersburg)
June 22 vs Spain (5pm – Seville)
Special Offer
Open up an 888sport account during the group stage, bet £10 to get £30 in FREE BETS + £10 FREE BET if England reach the knockout stages! Click the image below for this amazing offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Responsibly.
Min deposit of £/$/€10 with promo code required – Qualifying bet of at least £/$/€10 at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater – Additional Free Bet credited if England reaches the “Insert Stage” of Euro 2020 – Free bets valid for 7 days – Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General withdrawal restrictions & full T&Cs apply
History
Slovakia probably came out of the Czechoslovakia split the lesser of the two nations in footballing terms so it took them a while to qualify for their first European Championship. They finally achieved that aim in 2016 when they qualified for the competition in France and they made an immediate impression when they got there, coming out of their group before being seen off by Germany in the round of 16. That was a more than credible effort, one the class of 2020(1) will be looking to emulate if not better.
Qualifying
When you consider that Slovakia were dumped in with World Cup finalists Croatia in their qualifying group it was always going to be hard to top the group, and with Wales and Hungary also in the section coming second wasn’t going to be an easy task either. They went into that group knowing that their Nations League results had guaranteed them a play-off spot at the very worst and they ended up using that safety net when they were the scourge of the Irish, defeating the Republic on penalties before taking care of Northern Ireland in extra time to book their spot at these finals. Juraj Kucka led their scoring in qualifying with four goals.
Pandemic Effect
There doesn’t appear to be a discernible difference in the hopes of the Slovaks now as to 12 months ago. You could point to a disappointing Nations League display since then and a creditable if unspectacular start to their World Cup qualifying campaign as concerns and a sign that a pretty experienced bunch are just beginning to get the wrong side of their peak but that remains to be seen if that is actually the case. I’d say it isn’t too much of a hindrance though.
Strengths
The success of this Slovakia outfit is based on being hard to break down and tough to beat and even though defensive stalwarts such as Martin Srktel are now a thing of the past, that remains the key to their success. They probably go into this tournament with the lowest expectations of any of the 24 qualifiers which might just give them a bit of freedom to show their worth, much like they did back in 2016 when they came out of a competitive group.
Weaknesses
There is a lack of goals in this Slovakia side so breaking teams down is going to be a real issue and if teams contain Marek Hamsik then you wonder where the Slovaks will go for their goals. A couple of their opponents in the group are defensively strong too so they won’t be easy to break down which further adds to the problems. There can be an overreliance on Hamsik in the attacking parts of the pitch which could be another concern.
Manager
Stefan Tarkovic is the man assigned the task of guiding Slovakia through the tournament. He was considered something of a risk when he was appointed to repair the damage done after the success of 2016, given that he has little experience of full coaching roles, however he has been involved in the national setup in other positions for a while. Like those before him, he favours a defensive style with set-pieces very much a feature of their outlook. His record as Slovakia boss reads: P9 W3 D4 L2.
Key Players
When you think that Slovakia are the lowest ranked side in their group and rely on being hard to beat then Newcastle United stopper Martin Dubravka is going to be a key man for them if they are to get out of their group and make it through to the knockout stages once again. In terms of affecting the play at the right end of the pitch it is likely to be all about the veteran Marek Hamsik, who has shone playing for Gothenburg recently.
Team Bets
I’ve already mentioned in other previews that I don’t like the Slovakia chances of scoring very many goals in this tournament and it might be that no goalscorer is a bit of a runner for them but on the basis that if they do score no goals I’ll win my lower scoring team outright bet I’ll have a value play against the no goals in their team top goalscorer. Clearly Marek Hamsik and the likes of Robert Mak are the main protagonists but if they struggle to break teams down like there is a good chance they will, someone from elsewhere on the pitch could snatch the honours.
Slovakia are a pretty good side from set pieces as all defensively strong and organised sides are so I’ll take the chance at 25/1 that Inter defender Milan Skriniar finds the back of the net and that one goal is enough to take it. Skriniar bagged three goals for Inter in their title winning campaign this term and has a couple of goals in the colours of his national side too so he isn’t alien to scoring goals and in a side who I suspect will threaten most from set-pieces he looks good value as anyone at 25/1.
Tips
Back M.Skriniar Top Slovakia Goalscorer for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021
