GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany — Slovakia is relishing the prospect of taking on misfiring England in their Euro 2024 last-16 fixture in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, and has plenty of experience in their side to deal with the pressure of knockout football.
Slovakia revel in the underdog tag and while there is no doubt England will be heavy favourites to advance to the quarter-finals, they face a compact, hard-working team who have the impressive Stanislav Lobotka as the conductor of the orchestra in midfield.
Slovakia advanced to the knockout rounds following a 1-1 draw with Romania in their final Group E game and finished third in a pool where all four teams ended on four points.
“The English have quality, but every opponent they have played were able to torment them,” Slovakia midfielder Ondrej Duda said.
Lobotka won man of the match in two of the three pool games and was crucial in providing balance between defence and attack against Romania, especially when his side was under pressure.
“It (qualification for the last 16) is something indescribable,” Lobotka said according to Reuters. “We did it and I’m most pleased that we did it by playing our own game.
“From the beginning we wanted to play our game and we fought for each other. We will try to get as far as possible (in the tournament).”
Lobotka forms a midfield three with Duda and veteran Juraj Kucka, 37, one of a trio of vastly experienced players in the squad along with right back Peter Pekerik (also 37) and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka (35).
When Slovakia named the trio in their opening game against Ukraine, they were only the second team in Euros history to select three players aged 35 or older in the starting line-up after France in 2008, who had Gregory Coupet (then 35), Claude Makelele (35) and Lilian Thuram (36).
Slovakia’s Italian coach Francesco Calzona, 55, had been an assistant all his career until he landed the head tactician role with the national team in 2022 and has transformed them into a group of hard workers who fight for every ball.
“I’m very happy that we have progressed, I think we’ve achieved something important,” Calzona said.
“We were able to play three games at a high level against teams that are higher in the (FIFA) rankings (at the time).
“We now have another goal ahead of us; we want to last as long as possible in the tournament. I believe that we will be well prepared for the last 16.”
Elsewhere, England defender Marc Guehi dismissed criticism of under-fire manager Gareth Southgate, saying “everyone is behind” the coach.
England qualified first in the group but won just one of three matches, scoring two goals and will meet Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
The Crystal Palace defender said Southgate “has been fantastic for England”, adding “everyone is behind him and we have a really close, tight-knit group”.
“If you look at his record, it speaks for itself,” Guehi said according to AFP.
Named manager initially on an interim basis after England were eliminated by Iceland at the 2016 Euros, Southgate took the Three Lions to the World Cup semifinals, where they lost in extra time to Croatia.
Under Southgate, England made the final of Euro 2020, losing to Italy on penalties, and reached the quarters of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The coach has however come under fire after England’s lackluster performances in Germany, with fans booing the side after Tuesday’s scoreless draw with Slovenia.
Guehi however said: “I don’t think the team is too focused on that. We’re thankful for the fan support.
“It is a calm and focused camp. Everyone is focused on the task at hand.”
The 23-year-old doubted suggestions England were handed a favourable draw in the knockouts, despite hosts Germany, Spain, France and Portugal all being on the opposing side.
“Everyone has seen from results in the tournament so far that there’s no real favourable side. Every opponent is tough to play against.
“We just need to remain calm. We put pressure on ourselves, but it’s a very calm and focused environment.”
