Slovakia often gets confused in the geographically and culturally challenged United States with Slovenia. But the Repre unlike the Slovenes feature incredible quality and top flight talent up and down the squad. Marek Hamsik of Napoli is the biggest name in the squad, but he is far from alone in providing the potency Slovakia relies on going forward.
Martin Skrtel leads a stout defense that helped see Slovakia through a brutal UEFA qualifying group that included Slovenia, former national partner the Czechs, Northern Ireland and Poland. In the midfield, Vladimir Weiss Jr. is a wild card. The son of the current Repre Manager, and Slovak footballing great, Weiss has shown flashes of brilliance in the Premier League while also contributing more and more to Slovakia’s attack. The younger Weiss was the single most influential player in the Repre’s friendly win over the United States last November.
Robert Vittek and Stansilev Sestak are the key men up front for Slovakia. Both have demonstrated a potency at the international level that will serve the squad well. In a group that includes a weak New Zealand side, and a Paraguay team struggling at the moment without Salvador Cabanas, the victim of a senseless Mexico City shooting, Slovakia is a good bet to push for qualification from Group F, behind runaway favorites Italy.
I’m on Slovakia to qualify – nothing is a cert but sure they will do it. Teh other 3 teams are poor! Also, they’re looking better than Slovenia, who have bit unimpressive recently.