The final Slovakia Euro 2020 squad for this summer has been announced, with boss Stefan Tarkovic releasing 26 names.
Slovakia kick off the Euro 2020 campaign on June 14 against Poland, and things don't get easier from there: 2018 World Cup quarter-finalist Sweden follow, before a final group game against Spain.
The Slovakia Euro 2020 squad includes two familiar faces to Premier League watchers, but it's unlikely we'll get to see them on the pitch at the same time: Newcastle's Martin Dubravka and Fulham's Marek Rodák are both goalkeepers.
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Slovakia Euro 2020 squad: provisional 24-man squad
- GK: Martin Dubravka (Newcastle United)
- GK: Dusan Kuciak (Lechia Gdansk)
- GK: Marek Rodák (Fulham)
- DF: Peter Pekarik (Hertha Berlin)
- DF: Denis Vavro (Huesca)
- DF: Milan Skriniar (Internazionale)
- DF: Ľubomir Satka (Lech Poznan)
- DF: Tomáš Hubočan (Omonoia)
- DF: Dávid Hancko (Sparta Praha)
- DF: Martin Koscelník (Liberec)
- DF: Martin Valjent (Mallorca)
- MF: Marek Hamšík (IFK Göteborg)
- MF: Juraj Kucka (Parma)
- MF: Vladimir Weiss (Slovan Bratislava)
- MF: Robert Mak (Ferencvaros)
- MF: Ondrej Duda (Koln)
- MF: Patrik Hrosovsky (Genk)
- MF: Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli)
- MF: Lukas Haraslin (Sassuolo)
- MF: Laszlo Benes (Augsburg)
- MF: Jakub Hromada (Slavia Praha)
- MF: Tomas Suslov (Groningen)
- MF: Ján Greguš (Minnesota)
- FW: Michal Duris (Omonia)
- FW: Robert Bozenik (Feyenoord)
- FW: Ivan Schranz (Jablonec)
Slovakia Euro 2020 squad: Team profile
Slovakians can enjoy the fact that their team has made it to consecutive European Championships – not least as 2016 was their first appearance in this competition – but, in truth, the past two years have hardly been inspiring.
The good news is that their main target of reaching Euro 2020 was accomplished, via play-off victories over the Republic of Ireland and their northern neighbours.The bad news is that their overall form is far from hot. Slovakia began the qualifying campaign with former Czech international Pavel Hapal in charge, but a monotonous style of play resulted in some depressing results across 2020: Nations League home defeats to Czech Republic (1-3) and Israel (2-3) led to relegation from League B.
Under Hapal’s hapless guidance, they squeezed through their Euro 2020 play-off semi-final on penalties in Bratislava, but it was clear that the team was struggling.
So, four weeks before the final away to Northern Ireland, Slovakia’s FA made the bold decision to sack Hapal and appoint Stefan Tarkovic as interim coach. The match in Belfast was more of a battle than a sexy footballing display, but crucially, Slovakia won, as substitute Michal Duris found a goal in extra time.
So, they’re here at least, but now it’s all guesswork. Since both coaches have used several combinations of players, only a few of whom can claim to have played well throughout, it’s tough to predict how Slovakia will look at Euro 2020.
Tarkovic has taken the gig permanently since that brief yet successful caretaker stint. He hasn’t had much time to make his side tournament-ready, and there’s a fear that the Falcons will be easy fodder for their trio of tricky Group E opponents.
With a squad lacking in star names, Slovakia need their key players to continue delivering when things get tough. Martin Dubravka is reliable in goal, although his lack of football at Newcastle this season is as unfortunate as it was unexpected, and Milan Skriniar and Marek Hamsik bring quality and top-level experience.
In Euro 2020 qualifying, as well as in the 2020/21 Nations League, Slovakia frequently lacked ideas at the sharp end – although that is hardly surprising, given their shortage of quality options up front. Competing among the very best national teams in Europe, there will be no place for feeble football here. Courage, invention and unity will be key if Slovakia hope to outfox their group rivals.
Slovakia Euro 2020 squad: Who is Slovakia's best player?
Milan Skriniar
Marek Hamsik was always considered Slovakia’s leading light, but his successor is also Martin Skrtel’s positional successor: 26-year-old centre-back Skriniar. The Inter defender is in fine form for club, and his organisational skill is vital for his country – he will have to be at his very best if Slovakia are to compete in any real sense this summer.
Slovakia Euro 2020 squad: Who is Slovakia's manager?
Stefan Tarkovic
At Euro 2016, Tarkovic was an assistant coach to Jan Kozak – now, having taken them
here, he will be Slovakia’s mastermind. The 48-year-old likes to analyse his opponents and prefers a somewhat methodical approach.
Slovakia Euro 2020 squad: Slovakia's past Euros record
Slovakia have reached just one European Championship since gaining independence in 1993.
Impressively, they made it out of the group at Euro 2016, but ran into veteran dream-crushers Germany in the second round, who knocked them out with a 3-0 victory.
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