EURO 2016: Five things to know about Slovakia
AFP
May 10, 2016 14:17 MYT
May 10, 2016 14:17 MYT
Euro 2016: Group B - Slovakia
Five facts about Slovakia ahead of the football Euro 2016 where the team is facing England, Russia and Wales in Group B:
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1) Giant slayers
With 5.4 million people, Slovakia might be a small country but it does not surrender to greatness when it comes to football.
Early its European Championship qualification campaign, the team stunned Spain with a 2-1 home win in October 2014 as it cruised to a first-ever Euro appearance.
At their only major tournament so far, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Slovaks overpowered Italy 3-2 to clinch a spot in the last-16.
2) Legacy of Czechoslovakia
After the peaceful split of former Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, Slovakia's independent football team took time to find the limelight.
While the Czech Republic has not missed a single European championship since 1996, winning silver in that year and bronze in 2004, Slovakia will be at the Euro for the first time ever this year.
When Czechoslovakia won the 1976 Euro tournament, the starting line-up comprised eight Slovaks, including the entire defence.
3) Shining stars
The Slovak team boasts plenty of talent plying trade in Europe's top leagues -- captain Martin Skrtel is playing his eighth season with Liverpool and playmaker Marek Hamsik is indispensable for Serie A title contenders Naples.
Another midfielder Juraj Kucka has found a place in the starting line-up of AC Milan and wing-back Peter Pekarik is a permanent fixture in Hertha Berlin's defensive line.
4) Foreigners welcome
Slovakia's government and many of its people may not be too keen on migrants, but football fans could make an exception.
Karim Abdul-Jabbar Guede was born in Hamburg, Germany to a French father and Togolese mother and is ready to play for Slovakia, if called up.
He gained citizenship in 2011 when he played for Slovan Bratislava.
The 31-year-old now plays for SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga second division and is in the broader Slovakia squad.
In contrast, 26-year-old Cameroon-born striker Leandre Gael Tawamba Kana, who was also eyeing Slovak citizenship with prospects of joining the national team, has recently left Slovak top-flight side Zlate Moravce for Kazakhstan's FC Kairat and abandoned the plan.
5) Crazy coaches
With Jan Kozak at the helm, Slovakia has extended its tradition of employing impulsive national team coaches.
Appointed in 2013, Kozak once -- as the coach of top-flight side FC Kosice -- attacked the opponent's goalkeeping coach who had to undergo four weeks of treatment as a result.
His predecessor Jozef Adamec (1999-2001) was banned for a total of 267 days for various misdemeanours during two seasons with Slovan Bratislava in the 1960s.
In 1970, Adamec slapped a journalist, earning a five-month ban from the sport.