Betting on Slovakia at the World Cup 2010

 World Cup Appearances: 0
Best World Cup: N/A
FIFA World Ranking: 33
Manager: Vladimir Weiss
Captain: Marek Hamsik

Slovakia Team Profile

The World Cup always welcomes new faces and Slovakia will be one of the ‘New boys on the block’ in South Africa as players & fans alike get all excited at the prospect of their first ever appearance in a World Cup finals. However, one of the reasons as to why Slovakia will be appearing in their début finals is because of the split between Czechoslovakia, and this then led to the founding of Slovakia in 1993. They have, though, had three failed attempts in 1998, 2002 & 2006 but finally managed to end their drought with success in 2010 after bypassing a competitive Group 3 in European qualifying.

The Slovaks, as we like to call them, play in their white strip for home games and blue for away. They aren’t the biggest of footballing nations by any stretch of the imagination and this is evident when you breeze through their squad names in that very few will stand out. This is certainly the case if you concentrate solely on English football as just a handful of Slovakian internationals ply their trade in The Premiership or The Championship, with Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel one of the more well know players for Slovakia. West Brom’s Marek Cech might also jog a few memory’s.

Slovakia Key Players

Marek Hamsik

Quite why he is the captain of Slovakia I’m not sure as he just doesn’t seem the leading type, but the Napoli playmaker is a very gifted individual and will be the main inspiration behind Slovakia’s forward play. Hamsik, from what I’ve seen of him at Napoli, tends to play just off the striker and drifts into gaps that are handmade by the strikers. He is a good reader of the play in that he will get into good positions to score, he has a decent hit on him as well, but he’s basically going to be Slovakia’s playmaker in South Africa, threading through balls to their striking duo of Robert Vittek & Sestak. Hamsik is a tricky customer as he can leave a defender for dead with his quick turns and skills, but whether he is a natural born leader is open to debate.

Strengths

Slovakia were a stubborn, robust side during qualification and were only once beaten by more than one goal in the qualifiers. However, one quality which did surprise me was in front of goal in that Slovakia scored in all but one of their ten qualifiers, scoring 22 goals overall. They were also very tidy at the back conceding just 10 in return, which does highlight their solidity. Hamsik will be the man to watch for them as he is a tricky player when in possession.

Weaknesses

With the exception of captain Marek Hamsik, who even he isn’t exactly proven at this level what with South Africa being his very first World Cup appearance, Slovakia are short of a world-class player or two and have relied heavily on some solid team efforts through qualifying, while we mustn’t forget that the group they qualified from was arguably the weakest of the lot on paper. They’ll need to excel if they’re to have a successful stay in South Africa, although I’m sure picking up a couple of points here and there would please the fans back home.

Slovakia Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: European
Group: 3
Position: 1st
Win-Draw-Lose: 7-1-2
Goals Scored: 22
Goals Conceded: 10

Slovakia finished top of what was a competitive group, but only because their wasn’t a world class nation in sight. The best team in Group 3 were the Czech’s and they massively underperformed during qualifying which paved the wave for a surprise entrant – Slovakia. Moreover, Slovakia didn’t qualify until the very last qualifier when they won 1-0 in Poland.

World Cup Potential: 2/5

Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss will have been delighted with the group he was drawn as Italy, Paraguay and New Zealand popped out of the hat to form a lightweight Group F. The Italians are the favourites to progress but they are far from unbeatable, while the results they attain from their games with Paraguay and New Zealand are ultimately what will decide the difference from making it through the group and faltering at the first hurdle. They’ll be an unknown quantity for some, even for us in many respects, and while we don’t rate their chances in the slightest of winning the tournament altogether, progressing from the group remains a real possibility.

Slovakia World Cup Betting Odds

Slovakia to win the World Cup: 750/1 bWin

Before the World Cup the odds on Slovakia were 300/1 

Official Slovakia World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw)

Dusan Kuciak (Vaslui)

Dusan Pernis (Dundee United)

Defenders

Marek Cech (West Bromwich Albion)

Jan Durica (Hannover 96)

Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg)

Martin Petras (Cesena)

Kornel Salata (Slovan Bratislava)

Martin Skrtel (Liverpool)

Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz)

Midfielders

Marek Hamsik (Napoli)

Jan Kozak (Plitechnica)

Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prag)

Marek Sapara (Ankaragücü)

Zdeno Strba (Skoda Xanthi)

Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava)

Miroslav Stoch (Twente Enschede)

Vladimir Weiss junior (Manchester City)

Strikers

Filip Holosko (Besiktas Istanbul)

Stanislav Sestak (Bochum)

Martin Jakubko (Moskau)

Erik Jendrisek (Schalke)

Robert Vittek (OSC Lille)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Slovakia Fixtures – Group F

28/06 – 15.00 – Round of the last 16: Slovakia – Holland: 1-2

World Cup 2010 Group F - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

Italy v Slovakia Betting Odds

Italy to win: 4/7 at SkyBet
Draw: 3/1 at Bet365
Slovakia to win: 6/1 at Victor Chandler

Italy

Italy, the defending World Champions, despite not playing to their best potential, still seem to have one foot in the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. After two drawn matches in their two Group F matches, Italy find themselves on two points, but miraculously in second place in the group. They will have been happy with the point which they took away from their opening group match against the lively Paraguayan side, knowing that it was the first match and that it would be their toughest opposition in the group. However, they will, in no way shape or form, have been happy with the draw they got against the World Cup minnows New Zealand. Italy fell behind for the second time in their two matches, as the Kiwis opened up a shock lead. But, as against Paraguay, Italy rode their luck a bit in getting an equaliser, with a penalty that Iaquinto buried. The biggest criticism that will be levelled at the Italians, is that they have not created enough clear cut chances, and that their forwards look to be coming up short on the world stage. It is true that they are not as complete a side as they were four years ago at Germany ‘06, but still, more would have been expected out of Marcelo Lippi’s side. They have had a lot of possession in their two matches, they just have not really known what to do with it.

There may not be even reason for Lippi to hit the panic button just yet, as he will back his side to pull through. Another draw could be enough for them to see themselves through to the second round of the 2010 FIFA World cup, as table topping Paraguay take on New Zealand, and will be expected to win. New Zealand are, quite unexpectedly, on level points with Paraguay and so there is a risk that the Italians will not see the second round. But the bigger risk is from Slovakia themselves, who, with a win, would elimiate Italy from the competition. That is how close it is for Lippi, who must not be frantically be searching for answers behind the scenes, even if he is calm on the outside. Lippi has been quite brave with his attack minded 4-3-3 approach to the matches, but there has just not been enough creativity or convinction in what they are doing. This stems from not having World Class strikers and therefore they are trying to over compensate. They are missing Andrea Pirlo, who is pivotal in the centre of midfield, but there is a sense that even if he is there pulling the strings, then Italy are still going to be too short up front to realistically defend their title. Group F is still wide open, and Italy are by no means certain of going further in the competition. They will have their work cut out for them against a hard working Slovakia side, who are still in with a chance of qualification themselves.

Italy should have the will and experience to get through this early challenge. They were expected to win their group with ease, after being given one of the easiest draws out of all the seeded teams. It has not worked out that way clearly, as they struggle to produce their best game. Italy have not been bad, and they look as if a good win would sort out a lot of their problems. They have been passing the ball around quite well, and generally controlling things, but they have lacked the quality to get into the dangerous positions in the last third of the pitch. While they may be able to get away with it in this group, much tougher challenges will await them. They will want to push on and do all that they can to finish in first place though, for if they finish second, then they would meet the in form Dutch in the last sixteen of the tournament.

Italy World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: W0, D2, L0
GF/GA: 2/2
Cards: Y1, R0
Most Shots: Ricardo Montolivo, 8
Top Scorer: Daniele De Rossi, Vincenzo Iaquinta, 1
Shots/On Goal: 33/12
Fouls Committed: 26
Total Passes: 1182
Pass Completion: 72%

Slovakia

Slovakia will be putting up a defensive wall which they hope the uninspiring Italians will have a hard time breaking down. Slovakia themselves will be a bit disappointed with their results so far, after promising a little bit better ahead of the tournament. The sucker punch for them came in their opening match, when New Zealand grabbed an unlikely draw right at the death of injury time, which left Slovakia reeling. Instead of having three points, they were left with one, and their confidence was nowhere to be seen in their second match when they lost to Paraguay. They not only lost, they were comfortably outplayed, and they must get both of those monkeys off their back if they are to raise one last valiant effort and throw everything that they have at Italy. A win for Slovakia would put them through, assuming that New Zealand do not Paraguay. There is everything to play for in this tight group, with all four teams in with a good chance of qualification. But having your noses in front is a much more enviable position in these times, and Italy realistically have a better chance of going through. But Slovakia will have eyed up Italy’s weaknesses going forward, and they will back their own defence to hold out. Slovakia are a side short of goals themselves, but can they grab that one vital one which will send them through against the odds?

Slovakia World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: W0, D1, L1
GF/GA: 1/3
Cards: Y4, R0
Most Shots:
Top Scorer:
Shots/On Goal: 19/4
Fouls Committed: 29
Total Passes: 879
Pass Completion: 66%

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: It was not supposed to all come down to this clash of Europeans. It was expected to be a lot more comfortable for Marcelo Lippi’s Italy. Their best has deserted them when they have needed it most, and they have looked panicked at times into playing aimless long balls. That is not the Italian way. They need to find their best form now, as their slow start may prove too costly for them. Would not particularly back against a draw in this one, but Italy need more and would be delighted to edge the match by one goal. That’s the Italian way.
Italy -1 for Evens at Paddy Power
 

Current Slovakia V Italy Odds:

 World Cup Appearances: 0
Best World Cup: N/A
FIFA World Ranking: 33
Manager: Vladimir Weiss
Captain: Marek Hamsik

Slovakia Team Profile

The World Cup always welcomes new faces and Slovakia will be one of the ‘New boys on the block’ in South Africa as players & fans alike get all excited at the prospect of their first ever appearance in a World Cup finals. However, one of the reasons as to why Slovakia will be appearing in their début finals is because of the split between Czechoslovakia, and this then led to the founding of Slovakia in 1993. They have, though, had three failed attempts in 1998, 2002 & 2006 but finally managed to end their drought with success in 2010 after bypassing a competitive Group 3 in European qualifying.

The Slovaks, as we like to call them, play in their white strip for home games and blue for away. They aren’t the biggest of footballing nations by any stretch of the imagination and this is evident when you breeze through their squad names in that very few will stand out. This is certainly the case if you concentrate solely on English football as just a handful of Slovakian internationals ply their trade in The Premiership or The Championship, with Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel one of the more well know players for Slovakia. West Brom’s Marek Cech might also jog a few memory’s.

Slovakia Key Players

Marek Hamsik

Quite why he is the captain of Slovakia I’m not sure as he just doesn’t seem the leading type, but the Napoli playmaker is a very gifted individual and will be the main inspiration behind Slovakia’s forward play. Hamsik, from what I’ve seen of him at Napoli, tends to play just off the striker and drifts into gaps that are handmade by the strikers. He is a good reader of the play in that he will get into good positions to score, he has a decent hit on him as well, but he’s basically going to be Slovakia’s playmaker in South Africa, threading through balls to their striking duo of Robert Vittek & Sestak. Hamsik is a tricky customer as he can leave a defender for dead with his quick turns and skills, but whether he is a natural born leader is open to debate.

Strengths

Slovakia were a stubborn, robust side during qualification and were only once beaten by more than one goal in the qualifiers. However, one quality which did surprise me was in front of goal in that Slovakia scored in all but one of their ten qualifiers, scoring 22 goals overall. They were also very tidy at the back conceding just 10 in return, which does highlight their solidity. Hamsik will be the man to watch for them as he is a tricky player when in possession.

Weaknesses

With the exception of captain Marek Hamsik, who even he isn’t exactly proven at this level what with South Africa being his very first World Cup appearance, Slovakia are short of a world-class player or two and have relied heavily on some solid team efforts through qualifying, while we mustn’t forget that the group they qualified from was arguably the weakest of the lot on paper. They’ll need to excel if they’re to have a successful stay in South Africa, although I’m sure picking up a couple of points here and there would please the fans back home.

Slovakia Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: European
Group: 3
Position: 1st
Win-Draw-Lose: 7-1-2
Goals Scored: 22
Goals Conceded: 10

Slovakia finished top of what was a competitive group, but only because their wasn’t a world class nation in sight. The best team in Group 3 were the Czech’s and they massively underperformed during qualifying which paved the wave for a surprise entrant – Slovakia. Moreover, Slovakia didn’t qualify until the very last qualifier when they won 1-0 in Poland.

World Cup Potential: 2/5

Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss will have been delighted with the group he was drawn as Italy, Paraguay and New Zealand popped out of the hat to form a lightweight Group F. The Italians are the favourites to progress but they are far from unbeatable, while the results they attain from their games with Paraguay and New Zealand are ultimately what will decide the difference from making it through the group and faltering at the first hurdle. They’ll be an unknown quantity for some, even for us in many respects, and while we don’t rate their chances in the slightest of winning the tournament altogether, progressing from the group remains a real possibility.

Slovakia World Cup Betting Odds

Slovakia to win the World Cup: 750/1 bWin

Before the World Cup the odds on Slovakia were 300/1 

Official Slovakia World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw)

Dusan Kuciak (Vaslui)

Dusan Pernis (Dundee United)

Defenders

Marek Cech (West Bromwich Albion)

Jan Durica (Hannover 96)

Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg)

Martin Petras (Cesena)

Kornel Salata (Slovan Bratislava)

Martin Skrtel (Liverpool)

Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz)

Midfielders

Marek Hamsik (Napoli)

Jan Kozak (Plitechnica)

Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prag)

Marek Sapara (Ankaragücü)

Zdeno Strba (Skoda Xanthi)

Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava)

Miroslav Stoch (Twente Enschede)

Vladimir Weiss junior (Manchester City)

Strikers

Filip Holosko (Besiktas Istanbul)

Stanislav Sestak (Bochum)

Martin Jakubko (Moskau)

Erik Jendrisek (Schalke)

Robert Vittek (OSC Lille)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Slovakia Fixtures – Group F

28/06 – 15.00 – Round of the last 16: Slovakia – Holland: 1-2

World Cup Group F - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

World Cup Group of Slovakia