Coach
Vladimir Weiss
22.09.64
Coach since 2008
45-year-old who played, like his father and son, for his country, is already Slovakia’s most successful coach. Gained respect as coach of local side Artmedia Petrzalka whom he led in an impressive Champions League group stage campaign in 2005-06 and has the respect of players and pundits alike, is a confident tactician and turned up an ace for Slovakia when he risked picking his own son for the side.
Goalkeepers
Lubos Kamenar
17.6.1987
Nantes
caps 2, goals 0
Years of national youth team experience behind him, he proved himself in domestic league when he became number one at top side Artmedia. Has improved even further since move to France last year.
Dusan Kuciak
21.5.1985
Vaslui
2 caps 0 goals
Excellent performances for his club made him difficult to ignore
Jan Mucha
5.12.1982
Legia Warsaw
caps 14, goals 0
Hero of the campaign with some outstanding performances, especially in the final crunch game where he pulled off some incredible saves against Poland to send Slovakia through. Proved himself in Polish league and soon to move to Everton. Seen, quite rightly, as the rock the Slovakia side is built on.
Dusan Pernis
28.11.1984
Slavia Prague
caps 12, goals 0
Currently playing for Scottish Premier League club Dundee United. Pernis was an unused substitute for Slovakia during the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Defenders
Marek Cech
26.1.1983
West Bromwich Albion
caps 38, goals 5
Deft left-footed player as comfortable playing left-back as left-wing. Reliable, hard-working team player always on the look out for the chance to launch an attack but just as quick to know when to drop back to defend.
Jan Durica
10.12.1981
Hanover 96
caps 35, goals 1
Along with Skrtel and Mucha forms the bedrock defence of the team. Performed superbly during qualification and has benefitted from playing in quality foreign league.
Peter Pekarik
30.10.1986
Wolfsburg
caps 19, goals 1
Played the entire qualifying campaign and blossomed into a creative offensive player and reliable going back. Has made the right back position his own but hampered by not enough shows in Wolfsburg’s starting line-up.
Martin Petras
2.11.1979
Cesena
caps 38, goals 1
Strong central defender with relatively large national team experience. Italian move has served him will and he has emerged as a natural squad choice ahead of South Africa.
Kornel Salata
24.1.1985
Slovan Bratislava
caps 3, goals 0
String of impressive performances in domestic league and already with national team experience under his belt as well as a healthy work-rate on pitch. A sensible squad pick who has only recently forced his way into national team contention.
Martin Skrtel
15.12.1984
Liverpool
caps 37, goals 5
Rock solid defensive skills and one of Slovak team’s hardest workers. Made headlines at home with massive move to Liverpool and although plagued at club level by injuries and poor form this season he has continued to be one of the rocks of the team during qualification. Essential to side’s success but recently prone to injury.
Radoslav Zabavnik
6.9.1980
Mainz
caps 42, goals 1
Has grown into a driving force of the team and used the qualifying campaign to make the left back position his own. Fits effortlessly into a tight back line and has shown the benefits of playing in a superior foreign league.
Midfielders
Marek Hamsik
27.7.2987
Napoli
xx caps
Slovakia’s best player and arguably only world-class star for more than a decade, Hamsik can turn a game on its head and take opposition apart in a moment. Fast, precociously talented and tactically mature for his years his greatest weakness could be what support his teammates can provide him.
Kamil Kopunek
18.5.1984
Trnava
7 caps 0 goals
Experienced and would be ideal cover in defensive midfield for Karhan. Made his professional debut as a 17-year old in spring 2002, receiving a red card in the same match.
Jan Kozak
22.4.1980
Timisoara
caps 22, goals 2
Natural creative midfield talent whose skills have meant successive coaches have never been able to completely overlook him, including Weiss. Move to Timisoara in winter transfer window seems to have only done him good and has already scored his first goal for the club.
Juraj Kucka
26.2.1987
Sparta Prague
caps 5, goals 0
Kucka made his international debut for the Slovakia national football team in friendly match against Liechtenstein in 2008. Performances for Sparta Prague have already brought him to attention of coach Weiss.
Marek Sapara
31.7.1982
Ankaragucu
caps 24, goals 2
Quality left winger recently moved to Turkish league and proven national team ability. Twice won league titles during his four-year stay with Rosenborg of Norway.
Stanislav Sestak
16.12.1982
Bochum
caps 29, goals 10
Pacy forward whose performance in the qualification campaign scoring six goals proved his ability and worth to the team. Has matured to become the stand out Slovakia performer up front after years of seemingly failing to fulfil his potential at national level.
Miroslav Stoch
19.10.1989
Twente
xx caps
Quick left winger who has benefitted from loan to Dutch side from Chelsea and finally playing regular first team football. Behind Weiss jnr was one of the biggest finds of the qualifying campaign. Full of energy, forms a triumverate of explosive talent in the midfield alongside Hamsik and Weiss jnr.
Zdeno Strba
9.7.1976
Xanthia
caps 20, goals 0
Reputation as a courageous workhorse no better shown than when he was put, out of position, into central defence in the final qualifying match against Poland. Tireless, self-sacrificing team performances have cemented his squad place in last year.
Vladimir Weiss jnr
30.11.1989
Bolton Wanderers
xx caps
Carrying on the family tradition – both his grandfather Vladimir and his father, the national team coach, all played for their country – Weiss jnr was the find of the qualifying campaign. Searing pace, youth, energy, a keen eye for a break and strong right foot make him a potent weapon for Slovakia. Needs to curb individualist bent and pay careful attention to what those around him are doing.
Forwards
Filip Holosko
17.1.1984
Besiktas
caps 37, goals 5
Established himself as a top squad choice over last 18 months. Speedy, natural striker who shrugged off a broken leg at the end of last year to come back in outstanding form. Has improved in leaps and bounds in Turkey and is currently firing goals in for his club.
Martin Jakubko
26.02.80
Saturn Moscow (Rus)
21 caps (4 goals)
At 6ft 4½in, his physical presence earned him place in the squad. During the 2010 World Cup qualification he played six matches, scoring two goals.
Erik Jendrisek
26.10.1986
Kaiserslautern
caps 13, goals 2
Talented youngster who, despite being tipped for years as a star, only over the last year showed his natural taste for scoring and became key part of squad. Finding the back of the net regularly in Germany this season and showing his class.
Robert Vittek
1.4.1982
Ankaragucu
caps 69, goals 18
A relative veteran of the side at only 28, Vittek is second on the all-time list of scorers for Slovakia and a regular starter for Slovakia. But failure to score at all in qualifying matches despite recognised hard work is a worry. Will be hoping recent move to Turkey will help him recover his goalscoring touch.
