Page 25 - Soccer360 Issue 106

NICKNAME: THE FALCONS S360 PREDICTION | 17TH PLACE
GROUP E - UEFA EURO 2024
FACTFILE
POPULATION:
5.4 million
EURO FINALS APPEARANCES: 2
BEST FINISH: Last 16, 2016
MOST MEMORABLE EUROS MOMENT: Marek Hamsik’s match-winning performance against Russia in 2016.
HOW THEY GOT TO EURO 2024: Won seven of their 10 matches to finish runners- up in their qualifying group.
LAST EUROS APPEARANCE: 2020 - Overcame Poland in their opening match before a heavy defeat to Spain cost them a last 16 place.
MOST CAPPED
PLAYER: Marek Hamsik, 138 caps
LEADING INTERNATIONAL SCORER: Marek Hamsik, 26 goals
HOW TO FOLLOW:
MARIK HAMSIK
VS BELGIUM VS UKRAINE VS ROMANIA JUNE 17TH JUNE 21ST JUNE 26TH 12:00PM | EST 9:00AM | EST 12:00PM | EST
FIFA RANKING 48TH
SLOVAKIA
Competing in their third consecutive Euro finals, Slovakia are hoping to emulate their achievement of reaching the knockout stage in 2016. Stephen Donovan casts an eye over their chances.
EURO APPEARANCES: 2
EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
THEIR BEST THREE EUROS
2016
2020
2012
14TH
18TH
DNQ
UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD:7 W:2 D:1 L:4
THE COACH:
FRANCESCO CALZONA
Recently thrust into the Serie A spotlight
as the third manager to lead defending champions Napoli during a troubled season, Francesco Calzona has had a long coaching career but never landed a top job before being appointed by Slovakia in 2022. He has made the transition well, turning the team around after a dismal couple of years to secure qualification for Euro 2024, and his aim here will to take them into the last 16.
KEY PLAYER:
MILAN SKRINIAR
In a team that doesn’t score an abundance
of goals, being solid defensively is of extra importance and so Slovakia are very grateful to have one of Europe’s best centre-backs
in Milan Skriniar. The 29-year-old won three major trophies during six years with Inter, and comes into this tournament after a successful first season with Paris Saint-Germain. He replaced national team legend Marek Hamsik as captain in 2022.
BACK ON TRACK
It may not have garnered any global headlines, but Slovakia’s resurgence in
2023 under coach Francesco Calzona was highly impressive. The Italian took charge after a terrible showing in the Nations League which saw them finish behind the likes of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, and masterminded a turnaround that took them all the way to Euro 2024 with seven wins
out of 10 qualifiers. The Falcons therefore arrive in Germany believing that they can exceed expectations and make a foray into the last 16 or at the very least, continue
their record of winning a match at every major tournament they have competed in. There is a good chance they could achieve progress too, as although Belgium are
the overwhelming favourites in Group E, there appears to be very little to choose between Slovakia and their other two opponents Ukraine and Romania, so fine margins could decide who goes through. This is a determined team that usually leaves everything out on the field and will be hard to break down, courtesy of a defence led
by captain Milan Skriniar. However, the age- old concern for Slovakia is who will score their goals. The lack of a prolific striker has been an issue throughout their international history and could prove their undoing here, with 37-year-old midfielder Jiraj Kucka’s 13 goals the highest tally among the current squad.
PROBABLE STARTING XI
HARASLIN
LOBOTKA
PEKARIK
SUSLOV
KUCKA
HANCKO
BOZENIK
DUDA
VAVRO
SKRINIAR
DUBRAVKA
SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024 23