Slovakia heads into Euro 2024 with an impressive mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, guided by the unusual but effective leadership of Francesco Calzona. Once a coffee seller, Calzona transitioned to football management, drawing scepticism initially. However, his strong qualification campaign silenced critics as Slovakia breezed through their group, only falling to powerhouse Portugal.
Calzona’s connection with former Napoli star Marek Hamsik, who is now part of his backroom staff, has been pivotal. Hamsik recommended Calzona for the national team role, and their partnership has proved fruitful. Despite a rocky start with a draw against Luxembourg, Slovakia found their rhythm, showcasing a solid team effort throughout the qualifiers.
The squad’s backbone includes experienced players like 37-year-old Juraj Kucka and defenders Milan Skriniar and David Hancko.
Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from Newcastle adds to their robust defence. The midfield trio of Kucka, Ondrej Duda, and Stanislav Lobotka, who knows Calzona well from their Napoli days, provides stability and creativity.
The lack of a standout striker remains a concern. With Hamsik retired, the goal-scoring burden falls on younger talents like Robert Bozenik, who showed promise with eight goals in 15 games for Boavista. Slovakia’s attack will also rely on Tomas Suslov, Hellas Verona’s player of the year, who could make a significant impact off the bench.
Calzona’s leadership and the team’s collective experience make Slovakia a formidable opponent. Their qualification campaign demonstrated a well-settled team, capable of sharing the goal-scoring load, which might be their key strength in Euro 2024.
As they aim to surpass their disappointing Euro 2020 group stage exit, Slovakia’s blend of veterans and new talents offers hope for a deeper run this time around.
