Slovakia - Hamsik is still in charge

After the split with the Czech Republic, Slovakia waited a long time for a major competition, and the ice was broken at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, when the Slovaks reached the round of XNUMX.

Six years later, Slovakia participated in the first European Championship, and in France at the start of the knockout phase, it lost to Germany (3:0). That there is a continuity of good games of the national team is evidenced by the fact that the Slovaks are participating in another continental competition this year.

Slovakia qualified for the EP through the League of Nations, where it was better than the Republic of Ireland in the semi-finals, and Northern Ireland in the final. The draw placed them in Group E, with Poland, Sweden and Spain. The Slovaks will play their first match against the Poles (June 14, in St. Petersburg), four days later they will face Sweden (June 18, again in St. Petersburg), and the group stage will end with a duel against Spain (June 23, Seville).

The star of the team is Marek Hamšik, but it is questionable in what form he will be at the Euros. In March, he came from Chinese Dalian to Swedish Gothenburg, where he played only six matches.

Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka recovered from his injury at the end of the season. During 13 games, he was in the "magpie's" goal, so he also comes to the Euro after a not so great season.

And Milan Škrinjar, who was champion in Italy with Inter, had a great season. He was a regular in the "Nerazura" team, scoring three goals in 32 matches in Serie A, so he is one of the most responsible for Inter winning the Scudetto after ten years.

The selection also includes - many consider - the great talent of Slovak football, Tomaš Suslov. He is 18 years old, he grew up in Tatran from Prešov, and then last summer he signed for Dutch Groningen. He made his debut in the national team in November last year, against the Czech Republic in the League of Nations. He played a total of three games, and on June 1, in a friendly match against Bulgaria, he spent 33 minutes on the field.

Coach Stefan Tarkovič has at his disposal - for European conditions - a modest team. The duels against Poland and Sweden will determine the further fate of the Slovaks, who could also look for a chance in the match against Spain, which, being the favorite, will probably secure the knockout phase in the first two rounds.