Group F contenders
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia

Route to the finals
Since the split from former Czechoslovakia in 1993, Slovakia has steadily improved in world football.

Appearing for the first time at the World Cup finals, Slovakia toppled the more heavily fancied Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia in European zone Group 3 to reach South Africa.

Despite losing twice to Slovenia, an away victory over Czech Republic mid-way through their campaign and double wins over Poland, Northern Ireland and San Marino proved enough to see them finish two points ahead of Slovenia in the final standings.

Manager
Former Czechoslovakia and Slovakia international Vladimir Weiss has been manager of the national team since 2008.

Not to be confused with his father of the same name and also a Czechoslovakia international, Weiss junior started his managerial career with Slovakian side Artmedia Bratislava.

He took the relatively unknown side to the UEFA Champions League group phase in 2005-06 before moving to Saturn Moscow Oblast in Russia the following season.

He returned to Artmedia in 2007 to win the Slovakian league title and was given the national job soon after.

Player watch
Defender Martin Skrtel has proven himself in the Premier League with Liverpool and has grown in importance for the international side since his debut in 2004.

Moving into midfield, the attack-minded Marek Hamsik played an integral role during qualification. He played in eight of the ten Qualifiers – scoring two goals – while his 12 goals in 33 appearances for Napoli this season would suggest he could maintain his goal threat in South Africa.

Stanislav Sestak will also hope to continue his recent form this summer. The forward was Slovakia’s top scorer during qualification, with six goals, and he has continued to be a major threat with German outfit VfL Bochum.

Competition History
First appearance: 2010
No. of appearances (inc 2010): 1
Best result: N/A
Matches against England: 3

Squad

Goalkeepers
1	Ján Mucha	Legia Warszawa, POL
12	Du šan Perniš	Dundee United, SCO
23	Du šan Kuciak	FC Vaslui, ROU
Defenders
2	Peter Pekarík	VfL Wolfsburg, GER
3	Martin Škrtel	Liverpool, ENG
4	Marek Cech	West Bromwich Albion, ENG
5	Radoslav Zabavník	FSV Mainz 05, GER
16	Ján Durica	Hannover 96, GER
21	Kornel Saláta	Slovan Bratislava, SVK
22	Martin Petráš	Cesena, ITA
Midfielders
6	Zdeno Štrba	Xanthi, GRE
7	Vladimír Weiss	Bolton Wanderers, ENG
8	Ján Kozák	FC Timisoara, ROU
10	Marek Sapara	Ankaragücü, TUR
15	Miroslav Stoch	FC Twente, NED
17	Marek Ham šík	Napoli, ITA
19	Juraj Kucka	Sparta Praha, CZE
20	Kamil Kopúnek	Spartak Trnava, SVK
Forwards
9	Stanislav Šesták	VfL Bochum, GER
11	Róbert Vittek	Ankaragücü, TUR
13	Filip Holo ško	Besiktas, TUR
14	Martin Jakubko	Saturn Moscow Region, RUS
18	Erik Jendri šek	1. FC Kaiserslautern, GER