How Slovakia got their groove back
Friday, October 9, 2015
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Slovakia have struggled to live up to the promise of their run to the FIFA World Cup last 16 in 2010, but under Ján Kozák they are threatening a return to those heights.
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The future looked bright when a young Slovakia side reached the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup but they struggled to back up that promise until Ján Kozák took the reins two years ago.
They have been a renewed force ever since, defeating Spain amid a dream start to UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying and, despite a blip last month, a victory against Belarus or Luxembourg over the next few days will seal qualification.
Coaching inspiration
Kozák's appointment in August 2013, replacing co-coaches Stanislav Griga and Michal Hipp, sparked Slovakia's reinvention. He took a team that had won seven out of 20 in two major qualification campaigns since the 2010 World Cup and led them to six successive wins, beating Spain on the way.
The former Czechoslovakia midfielder has got the best out of his players and his recall of Matúš Kozáčik as goalkeeper has been a masterstroke.
Squad evolution
The heart of the Slovakia squad is much the same as it was in 2010: Marek Hamšík, Juraj Kucka, Martin Škrtel and Ján Ďurica. Kozák has successful weaved in newer faces, with Tomáš Hubočan and Norbert Gyömbér at the back and Róbert Mak alongside Adam Nemec in attack.
They lack a proven goalscorer like Róbert Vittek, but the flip side is that they are less reliant, too: the team all contribute, with nine different scorers so far.
Fan factor
Build it, and they will come. Slovakia's supporters have signed up for the new dawn, with the sold-out signs dusted off and benefiting from a good airing over the past 14 months. Finally fans are going to home games to see their stars, not the opponent's.
"It has been a long time since so many were asking for an autograph or selfie," Ján Ďurica said after players met with fans in a Bratislava shopping centre on Monday.
Starting springboard
"The key moment was the first victory in Ukraine," said Kozák. "The players started to believe they could advance. Many of them played in South Africa, but now they are wiser, with more experience. They have a different view on life."