Euro 2024 team guide and best bets: Slovakia
Slovakia qualified comfortably for Euro 2024 but are they equipped to upset the odds in a tricky-looking Group F?
Get clued up on their chances ahead of Euro 2024 with Odds Now’s comprehensive team guide, which features tactical analysis, players to watch out for, predicted line-ups, betting tips and more.
How Slovakia qualified for Euro 2024
Losing only to group-toppers Portugal, Slovakia secured a safe passage to their third consecutive European Championships via a second-placed finish in Group I.
It was an impressive 22-point haul achieved by Fracesco Calzona's troops, who only dropped points in their two losses to group winners Portugal and an opening-day goalless draw with Luxembourg.
Slovakia also kept five clean sheets during qualifying while scoring 17 themselves, though admittedly the bulk of those strikes came against weak opposition.
Their appearance at the last 16 stage at Euro 2016 remains their best achievement at a European Championship as an independent country — something they will hope to match this time around.
Sparta Prague winger Lukas Haraslin was the main source of goals, scoring three times.
Slovakia's squad for Euro 2024
Slovakia named a 26-man squad ahead of the tournament:
Goalkeepers: Martin Dúbravka (Newcastle), Henrich Ravas (New England), Marek Rodák (Fulham)
Defenders: Vernon De Marco (Hatta), Norbert Gyömbér (Salernitana), Dávid Hancko (Feyenoord), Sebastián Kóša (Spartak Trnava), Adam Obert (Cagliari), Peter Pekarík (Hertha Berlin), Milan Škriniar (Paris), Denis Vavro (Copenhagen)
Midfielders: László Bénes (Hamburg), Matúš Bero (Bochum), Ondrej Duda (Hellas Verona), Patrik Hrošovský (Genk), Juraj Kucka (Slovan Bratislava), Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli), Tomáš Rigo (Ostrava)
Forwards: Róbert Boženík (Boavista), Dávid Ďuriš (Ascoli), Lukáš Haraslín (Sparta Praha), Leo Sauer (Feyenoord), Ivan Schranz (Slavia Praha), David Strelec (Slovan Bratislava), Tomáš Suslov (Verona), Ľubomír Tupta (Slovan Liberec)
Slovakia's predicted starting XI for Euro 2024
Slovakia's star player - David Hancko
Centre-back David Hancko has established himself as one of the Dutch top-flight’s finest defenders since moving to Feyenoord in the summer of 2022.
His employers romped to a 16th Eredivisie title during his first season in the Netherlands, with Hancko featuring 31 times, before following up with a second-place finish this term.
Despite that drop-off, Hancko has continued to impress in Rotterdam and has been strongly rumoured to follow departing Feyenoord manager Arne Slot to Premier League giants Liverpool.
Proving more than adept as a ball-carrying centre-back at club level, Hancko is also capable of filling in at left-back and this is likely to be his position in Germany with Slovakia.
His physical attributes are clear for all to see, but the imposing 26-year-old is also comfortable when in possession and remains a threat when pushing forward down the left flank.
Whether Slovakia will have enough to progress to the knockouts remains to be seen, but the tournament will provide the defender with yet another opportunity to impress any potential suitors.
Slovakia's one to watch - Leo Sauer
Despite having just one Slovakia cap to his name heading into the tournament, Leo Sauer’s call-up to the provisional squad at the ripe age of 18 speaks volumes.
The left winger has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Feyenoord alongside the aforementioned Hancko, playing 13 first team matches in the Dutch top-flight and scoring two goals in the process.
As is often the case in the modern game, Sauer starts out on the left flank but enjoys drifting inside onto his stronger right foot to wreak havoc over opposition defences.
The Bratislava-born winger is still raw, as to be expected given he is coming off the back of his first full season as a professional, but early signs of what he is capable of have garnered plenty of attention.
How much Calzona will opt to unleash the youngster in Germany is unclear but he's certainly a name that will be appearing on radars in the near future.
Slovakia's manager - Francesco Calzona
Italy’s Calzona found himself in a peculiar position this season, standing as the head coach of both Slovakia and Serie A club Napoli.
The bulk of Calzona’s career prior to last term was spent in assistant coaching roles across various clubs in Italy, including the Naples outfit, before he was announced as the new Slovakia head coach in August 2022.
Things got off to a shaky start under his tutelage, going winless in his opening five matches in charge, but they have since rebounded to win seven of their last eleven.
A 4-2 victory over Iceland confirmed their spot in Germany back in November, leaving Calzona poised to enjoy his first major tournament as a manager.
He was also announced as Napoli boss back in February following a disappointing run under previous coach Walter Mazzarri, but was unable to prevent them from meandering to a measly tenth-place finish in Serie A.
Calzona now looks set to depart the club, with former Inter Milan and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte agreeing to take the reins this summer.
Slovakia's Euro 2024 betting odds
Slovakia to win Euro 2024 - 500/1
Slovakia to reach the Euro 2024 final - 150/1
Slovakia to qualify from Group E - 6/5
Slovakia top team goalscorer - Robert Bosenik 11/2, Ondrej Duda 7/1, Lukas Haraslin 9/1, 12/1 BAR
*All best UK prices as of 30/05/24
Analysis and best bets for Slovakia at Euro 2024
Expert analysis from Odds Now’s Bradley Walker:
“Group E appears an exception to the rule in that there seems to be a clear divide between the two of the four sides.
"Belgium and Ukraine are rightly firm favourites to occupy the top two spots, and then it is a case of whether Slovakia and Romania are able to secure a spot as one of the best third-ranked sides.
“The importance of the match with Romania, their final encounter, cannot be overstated. Slovakia could very well head into the game with two losses against Belgium and Ukraine, so only a win will do if they are to progress.
"Both sides impressed in qualifying but were in relatively weak groups, so cancelling each other out for a draw wouldn’t be surprising in the slightest. Ultimately, I’d back Slovakia to bow out at the group stage, just as they did in Euro 2020.
"I also wouldn’t expect many goals from them, though striker Robert Bozeník is coming off his best scoring season so far with Boavista in Portugal and might be worth a tickle in the team top scorer market at 11/2."
Brad's Best Bets:
Slovakia to exit at the group stage - 5/6 (Betfair)
Robert Bozenik to be Slovakia's top scorer - 11/2 (Bet365)