Slovakia scouting report: what England can expect from their Euro 2024 last-16 opponents

Slovakia are England’s last-16 opponents (Picture: Getty)

Despite stuttering through the group stages at Euro 2024, England have been afforded the luxury of the more benign side of the knockout draw.

A win over Serbia and draws against Denmark and Slovenia were enough for Gareth Southgate’s side to top Group C and set up a last-16 tie with Slovakia on Sunday.

Currently ranked 45th in the world, Slovakia finished third in Group E, in large part due to their upset 1-0 win over Belgium in their opening match of the tournament.

But while they may appear, on the surface, to be one of the weaker nations left in the competition, this well-organised side have all the hallmarks of a tricky knockout-stage customer…

Manager: Francesco Calzona

Francesco Calzona previously worked under Maurizio Sarri (Picture: Getty)

Having grown up as an amateur football player and coffee seller, Calzona eventually made his name as an assistant manager under Maurizio Sarri, working with the former Chelsea boss at several clubs including Napoli.

And it was, there, that Calzona worked extensively alongside Slovakian legend and record appearance-maker Marek Hamik who eventually put the 55-year-old forward for the job in 2022.

Calzona’s ties with Napoli are so well entrenched that the Italian even returned to the club this February following the sacking of Walter Mazzarri, acting as an interim head coach of the Serie A side while still taking charge of Slovakia ahead of this summer’s tournament.

Style of play

While England may still be searching for tactical coherency in this tournament, the same accusation could not be levelled at this well-drilled Slovakia side.

Setting up in a 4-3-3, Calzona does not employ a possession-heavy style like that of his mentor Sarri but has instilled a solid defensive unit while rejuvenating the side’s attacking fortunes.

Much of the Slovankia’s build-up comes through the experience and quality of Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka at the base of midfield, with Juraj Kucka and Ondrej Duda invited to get forward as attacking 8s either side of him.

Ivan Schranz has scored two goals this tournament (Picture: Getty)

Ivan Schranz has two goals already this tournament off the right wing, while Robert Bozenik notched up nine goals in 30 games last season for Portuguese club Boavista.

Out of possession, Slovakia fall back into more of a 4-1-4-1 formation, Kucka and Duda occasionally pressing up alongside the opposition centre-backs but otherwise falling back into a mid-block.

Slovakia have the oldest team at the tournament and that is present within their defensive line, marshalled by captain and Paris-Saint Germain centre-back Milan Skriniar and backed up by Newcastle shot-stopper Martin Dubravka.

One of the side’s other key strengths is their aerial dominance, making them a distinct threat at offensive set-pieces.

How did they get here?

Despite drawing 0-0 to Luxembourg in their first game of qualifying, Slovakia went on to qualify for Euro 2024 with ease, finishing second in their group and losing just twice: both times against Portugal.

Slovakia's group-stage results

June 17: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

June 21: Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine

June 26: Slovakia 1-1 Romania

In Germany so far, Slovakia opened with one of the tournament upsets after a hard-fought 1-0 win against Belgium.

A 2-1 defeat to Ukraine brought them back to reality but Calzona’s side did enough in their final group game, securing a 1-1 draw with Romania to book their spot in the knockout rounds for just the second time in their nation’s history.

Star player: Stanislav Lobotka

Stanislav Lobotka is the heartbeat of Slovakia’s side (Picture: Getty)

An influential player in Napoli’s title-winning side of 2022/23, Lobotka is a huge presence at the base of midfield and has the kind of defence-splitting, tempo-setting attributes England have been crying out for this tournament.

Calzona and Lobotka worked together extensively at Napoli and the Italian has once again got the best out of the 29-year-old in this set-up.

Weakness

While Dubravka, Skriniar and Lobotka represent the start of an imposing spine, Slovakia perhaps lack that imposing, top-quality striker to make them a consistent attacking threat.

Schranz and Lukas Haraslin are dangerous operators out on the wings but Marc Guehi and John Stones will fancy their chances of keeping Bozenik quiet through the middle.

Prediction…

A well-drilled side with sprinklings of world-class talent has often proved a tricky customer for England, whether it be in the group stages or the knockout rounds.

In previous tournaments, Southgate’s side have had to negotiate last-16 ties against Senegal, Germany and Colombia so, in that regard, Slovakia should represent an easier prospect.

However, this is also not the same Southgate side as previous tournaments and unless the Three Lions can miraculously kick into gear after their drab group-stage showings, Sunday’s fixture could be a hard night’s work.

England to squeak by, 2-0 winners.

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