The Road to South Africa

It was a group that confounded all expectations with not just Slovakia qualifying when the form book suggested it would be the Czech Republic and Poland but Slovenia as well. It was the defeat of the Czechs, courtesy of Erik Jendirsek’s 82nd-minute winner in Prague that first gave a sense that this might be an extraordinary campaign. The return was drawn 2-2 but the Slovaks still had to go to Poland in the final round of matches and win to top the group. This they did 1-0 in Chorzow, although the fact that only 4,500 turned up to watch was because the Poles were already eliminated.

The Star Players

Marek Hamsik (Napoli) At 22, he is the youngest captain at this World Cup and, according to his manager, “a world-class player worth his weight in gold”. Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all been interested in the midfielder who recently agreed a fresh five-year contract with Napoli.

Robert Vittek (Ankaragucu) In one stunning spell in early 2006 when he scored a goal a game in 16 matches for Nuremberg, Vittek became one of the Bundesliga’s most sought-after strikers. However, he has never recaptured that kind of form and a move to Lille finished with him being sent on loan to the Turkish capital.

Marek Cech (West Bromwich Albion) A tough, skilful left wing-back who has experience of the Champions League and won the Portuguese title with Porto before moving to West Bromwich for £1.5m. He has been a pivotal part of a promotion-chasing side but has been negotiating a move to Rennes.

The Coach

Vladimir Weiss Like the United States manager, Bob Bradley, Weiss has the added burden of having his son, who is also called Vladimir, in the party bound for South Africa. Weiss’s own father, again confusingly called Vladimir, once played for Czechoslovakia. As a player, Weiss turned out in 1990 for what would be Czechoslovakia’s final World Cup before the nation split apart .He took Artmedia Bratislava into the Champions League via a 5-0 thrashing of Celtic before being offered the post of Slovak manager in 2008.

Honours

World Cup: Finalists 1934, 1962. Quarter-finalists 1938, 1990 (as Czechoslovakia)
European Championship: Winners 1976. Semi-finalists 1960 (as Czechoslovakia)

Analysis

Before getting too carried away with Slovakia’s chances it should be remembered than in qualification, they lost home and away to Slovenia. That said, by the end of the first round of matches in Group F, Slovakia are likely to be top, by virtue of the fact that their opening game is against the sacrificial lambs of New Zealand. Then things begin to get a little harder but by degrees. They have to get something from their second match against Paraguay in Bloemfontein and it is this game that is likely to decide the group. Should Slovakia win it, they should be through which will be a triumph but a game against Holland in the last 16 will be the end of the road.

Verdict

Squad (2.5/5)
Hard working and efficient but lacking experience at this level.

Coach (3/5)
His achievement in getting first Artmedia Bratislava into the Champions League and then Slovakia to the World Cup is proof that this is a man who relishes a challenge.

Attack (3/5)
Marek Hamsik is a footballer who is capable of turning any game with a single touch and only once in qualification did Slovakia fail to score.

Defence (2/5)
Despite the powerful presence of Martin Skrtel the fact is that Slovakia kept only three clean sheets in qualification – and one of those was against San Marino.