Slovakia – Squad, fixtures, odds and predictions

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Slovakia – Euro 2024 Overview

Slovakia’s men’s national football team have experienced several significant moments over the years, including their successful qualification to major championships such as the European Championships and the World Cup. One of their most memorable achievements was their participation in the 2010 World Cup, where they surprisingly reached the round of 16 after victories over Italy and Paraguay.

During that period, Marek Hamšík, an iconic midfielder known for his technique and leadership, was a central figure in the team. Other notable names include Vladimir Weiss and Martin Škrtel, whose efforts contributed to Slovakia’s success and established them as a respectable footballing nation on the international stage.

In Euro 2020 Slovakia exited in the group stage. Despite victory in the first group stage match against Poland, the Slovaks failed to reach the round of 16. In the second match, they lost 1-0 to Sweden, after Emil Forsberg scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot with less than a quarter of an hour left to play, then they suffered a heavy loss to Spain.

When Slovakia hit top form the can cause problems for the very best nations, but there are some shortcomings which can be exposed. Slovakia will be aiming to advance from Group E where they will be up against Belgium , Romania and Ukraine.

For further details on Euro 2024 as a whole check out our tournament preview.

How did Slovakia qualify for the European Championships?

Slovakia’s path to Germany was via a second place in the group stage behind Portugal . The Slovaks’ record in European Championship qualifying Group J was seven wins, one draw and two losses where, in addition to Portugal, they faced Luxembourg, Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Liechtenstein. Slovakia’s only dropped points came against Portugal home and away and a draw at home against Luxembourg. They scored 17 goals and eight. Slovakia’s top scorer in the Euro 2024 qualifiers was Lukáš Haraslín, with three goals.

Slovakia’s European Championship squad

Led by Francesco Calzona, Slovakia’s national team goes into Euro 2024 with a mixture of experience and emerging talent. With skilled players in all positions, Slovakia are aiming to make a lasting impression on the European stage. Calzona has set up his side to highlight its strengths, giving hopes of a successful tournament for the Slovakian team.

55-year-old Calzona’s philosophy emphasises a combination of tactical know-how, team cohesion and individual development. The Italian, who has only been head coach at Slovakia and Napoli since his coaching career took off, values ​​a balanced style of play that combines defensive organisation with efficient attacking play. Calzona also places great emphasis on the players’ mental and physical preparation before matches and emphasises the importance of a strong team spirit.

Slovakia rely on a strong team ethic and that the players work for each other. PSG star Milan Škriniar, with a past at both Inter and Sampdoria in Serie A is an important player. Apart from Škriniar, they have a lot of experience in Juraj Kucka and Peter Pekarík.  18-year-old Leo Sauer, is a young player of huge potential, who is considered one of the country’s greatest talents since Hamšík.

Key players

Here we have listed three of the key players in the Slovakian Euro 2024 squad:

• Milan Škriniar – Team captain Škriniar is a robust defender with excellent reading ability and strength in the air. His defensive presence and ability to win duels make him a key player in the Slovakian defence. In addition, he has an impressive ability to build up play from the back.
• Stanislav Lobotka – Stanislav Lobotka is one of Slovakia’s key players at Euro 2024 thanks to his ability to control and stabilise the midfield. His fine ball control, passing skills and ability to win the ball make him a central figure in the team. Additionally, Lobotka has proven to be capable of contributing both defensively and offensively, making him a reliable and versatile player who can impact games in multiple ways.
• David Hancko – One of Slovakia’s best players due to his reliable defensive play, strength and ability to start attacks from the back with his accurate passing. 

Slovakia Odds in Football European Championship 2024

The bookies are giving Slovakia less than a 0.2% chance of winning Euro 2024. They are not fancied to win the group or to qualify. We feel that Slovakia progressing to the last 16 is possible, but unlikely.

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Slovakia’s matches in the European Football Championship 2024

This is what Slovakia’s schedule looks like in the EC:

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