The Slovak national football team will start Thursday’s opening game of the new League of Nations against Estonia without Juraj Kucka. The midfielder of ŠK Slovan Bratislava flew with the national team on Wednesday afternoon from the MR Štefánik Airport in Bratislava to Tallinn, but he will not be available due to a knee injury.
Coach Francesco Calzona’s wards want to go back to the B-division, from which they were relegated in 2020.
Now they have to confirm their quality in the competition of Sweden, Azerbaijan and the aforementioned Estonia, with whom they will meet on Thursday at 20:45 CET in Tallinn.
Ivan Schranz, the team’s best scorer from the European Championship and one of the leading gunners of the entire tournament, was eliminated by the Slovaks already during the training session.
The attacker of Slavia Prague netted goals against Belgium, Ukraine (1:2) and England.
Another significant loss is the absence of Kuck.
“We had little time to prepare. In addition to Ivan Schranz, Kuck was also added to the injured list, he had a problem with his knee and will not have time to get ready for the match against Estonia.
However, we believe that he will get together for the match against Azerbaijan,” Calzona clarified the situation in the squad shortly before the flight.
The Slovak coach would like to succeed in the new edition.
“It is an important competition for us, we have the opportunity to reach the B-division. Also, if we could manage the matches in it, we would get into a good starting position in the World Cup qualification.”
Estonia is an outsider on paper, but Calzona does not underestimate the nearest opponent.
“It is a team that has a young, progressive coach. He was an assistant to the previous coach, he has good ideas. Estonia has seen performance progress.
We have to play that match with full seriousness, concentration and humility. If we lose these characteristics, we will be beatable by anyone. We have to go for it one hundred percent.”
Peter Pekarík has been an integral part of the Slovak team for a long time. The soon-to-be 38-year-old right-back arrived without a club affiliation, but Calzona has no doubts about his form.
“Nothing has changed with Peky, he hasn’t played in practically two years. But he always came to the national team fully prepared, and even in this case he is in good condition. He only lacks a contract with the club, but otherwise he is as ready as possible.”
Three days after the duel in Tallinn, his team will play in Košice in the second duel of the 1st group of the C-division against Azerbaijan (Sunday at 18:00).
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
