Slovakia heads into Euro 2024 after a strong qualifying campaign, showcasing a team built on experienced veterans. While they might lack a world-class striker, their collective strength and tactical setup under Francesco Calzona make them a team to watch. Let’s delve into a detailed analysis of Slovakia’s potential Euro 2024 lineup, exploring their key players, strengths, and weaknesses.
The Tactical Mind: Manager Francesco Calzona
Francesco Calzona’s journey to international management is far from typical. His background is rooted in coaching rather than a prominent playing career. Interestingly, his early professional life involved selling coffee alongside amateur football. He rose through the coaching ranks, becoming a key part of Maurizio Sarri’s staff at five different clubs, most notably during Napoli’s successful period. This Napoli connection proved crucial to his appointment as Slovakia’s manager.
His close relationship with Marek Hamsik, Slovakia’s legendary former captain, was instrumental. When Slovakia sought a new manager in 2022, Hamsik, recognizing Calzona’s tactical acumen, recommended his former Napoli coach, who was then working under Luciano Spalletti.
Initially met with skepticism, Calzona quickly silenced doubters. Despite a slow start in qualifying with a draw against Luxembourg, Slovakia impressively won every subsequent game except for their matches against group leaders Portugal. They navigated a challenging group, including Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland, with relative ease. After securing Euro 2024 qualification, Calzona even had a stint as Napoli’s interim manager, demonstrating the high regard he was held in. While his time back at Napoli had mixed results, it didn’t diminish his reputation in Slovakia.
Hamsik is now part of Calzona’s backroom staff, adding experience and a familiar face to the setup.
Francesco Calzona, Slovakia
Emerging Talent and Key Forwards in Slovakia’s Euro 2024 Squad
Slovakia’s Euro 2024 squad blends experience with emerging talent. While veterans provide stability, young players like Tomas Suslov offer dynamism. Suslov, named Hellas Verona’s player of the year, could be an impactful option off the bench, adding creativity and fresh legs.
However, the spotlight upfront might fall on Robert Bozenik. Once considered a rising star, Bozenik’s career had a slight dip after a move to Feyenoord. However, his move to Boavista in Portugal revitalized his form. He found the net consistently, becoming a key player. While his goalscoring form dipped slightly towards the end of last season, Slovakia will be looking to Bozenik to lead their attack and provide crucial goals in Euro 2024. His role in the Slovakia Euros Lineup is crucial as they seek a reliable source of goals.
Robert Bozenik, Slovakia
Strengths of the Slovakian Euro 2024 Team: A Solid Core
One of Slovakia’s biggest advantages is their team cohesion and settled structure. This stability provides a strong foundation for their Euro 2024 lineup. The midfield, in particular, is expected to be anchored by a highly experienced trio: Juraj Kucka, Ondrej Duda, and Stanislav Lobotka. Lobotka’s familiarity with coach Calzona from their time at Napoli further strengthens this midfield unit. Their combined experience and understanding will be vital in controlling games and providing a platform for attacks.
The defense also boasts a settled look, built around Paris Saint-Germain star Milan Skriniar and Feyenoord’s David Hancko, who has attracted significant transfer interest. Martin Dubravka of Newcastle United is the established goalkeeper. This defensive solidity, combined with the experienced midfield, suggests a well-organized and difficult-to-break-down Slovakia euros lineup. While the attacking lineup might be more fluid, the core defensive and midfield structure is likely to remain consistent throughout the tournament.
Weaknesses: The Search for Goals in Slovakia’s Euro 2024 Lineup
Slovakia’s main weakness lies in the absence of a proven, consistent goalscorer. The retirement of Marek Hamsik in 2022, and the omission of Robert Mak from the squad, leaves a void in terms of reliable goal threat. While Lukas Haraslin was their top scorer in qualifying, his tally of three goals highlights the team’s reliance on shared goalscoring responsibilities.
Robert Bozenik will be under pressure to fill this gap. While he has shown promise, his international goalscoring record and recent club form raise questions about whether he can consistently deliver at the highest level. Robert Polievka, who featured earlier in qualifying, is also yet to score for the national team.
However, this lack of a single star striker also presents a potential strength. Slovakia’s goals are spread across the team, with 11 different players scoring in qualifying. This suggests a team-oriented approach to goalscoring, potentially making them less predictable and harder to defend against. Their Euro 2024 lineup will likely rely on collective attacking efforts rather than individual brilliance.
A Story of Resilience: Goalkeeping Coach Jan Novota
Jan Novota, Slovakia’s goalkeeping coach, brings a particularly poignant story to the Euro 2024 setup. Forced to retire prematurely due to a serious heart condition, Novota’s journey from player to coach is inspiring. Having been on the cusp of representing Slovakia as a player, his presence in the coaching staff is a testament to his dedication and passion for the game. His inclusion in the Slovakia euros lineup, albeit in a coaching capacity, is a significant moment and adds an emotional dimension to their campaign.
Jan Novota, Slovakia
Expectations for Slovakia at Euro 2024
After a disappointing group stage exit at Euro 2020, initial expectations for Slovakia at Euro 2024 might have been modest. However, their dominant qualifying campaign has raised hopes. The ease with which they navigated a challenging group has led some to believe that they can achieve more than just participation. How far they can go will depend on their tactical flexibility and, crucially, their ability to find goals. The Slovakia euros lineup is built on a solid foundation, but their attacking output will determine their success in Germany.
Slovakia’s Euro 2024 Squad List:
Goalkeepers: Martin Dubravka (Newcastle United), Marek Rodak (Fulham), Henrik Ravas (New England).
Defenders: Peter Pekarik (Hertha Berlin), Norbert Gyomber (Salernitana), Denis Vavro (Copenhagen), Milan Skriniar (PSG), Adam Obert (Cagliari), David Hancko (Feyenoord), Vernon De Marco (Hatta), Sebastian Kosa (Spartak Trnava).
Midfielders: Matus Bero (Bochum), Juraj Kucka (Slovan Bratislava), Tomas Rigo (Banik), Patrik Hrosovsky (Genk), Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli), Ondrej Duda (Verona), Laszlo Benes (Hamburg).
Forwards: David Duris (Ascoli), Tomas Suslov (Verona), Ivan Schranz (Slavia Prague), Robert Bozenik (Boavista), David Strelec (Slovan Bratislava), Lubomir Tupta (Liberec), Leo Sauer (Feyenoord), Lukas Haraslin (Sparta Prague).
(Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
