England are looking for a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 as they take on Slovakia in the first knockout round – check out everything you need to know about the Three Lions’ latest opponents below…
Marc Guéhi has been one of England’s standout performers at the Euros so far, keeping two clean sheets in three group games in which he has played every minute.
Ebere Eze came on against Denmark in the second-half, while Adam Wharton is aiming for a spot alongside Declan Rice in midfield. Dean Henderson is ready to step in should Jordan Pickford become unavailable.
England and Slovakia last met in a major tournament at Euro 2016, sharing a goalless draw – but the last meeting came in World Cup qualifying in 2017 at Wembley.
Slovakia took an early lead through Stanislav Lobotka, but Eric Dier hit back just before half-time, with Marcus Rashford netting the winner on the hour mark.
England XI: Hart (GK), Walker, Cahill, Jones, Bertrand, Dier, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Sterling, 83), Alli (Livermore, 90), Kane, Rashford (Welbeck, 84).
Subs not used: Butland (GK), Heaton (GK), Cresswell, Stones, Keane, Smalling, Chalobah, Sturridge, Vardy.
Slovakia made the first big splash of the tournament by beating Belgium in their opening fixture, before defeat to Ukraine put a dent to their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
By snatching a draw in their final group game against Romania, they managed to qualify as one of the four best-ranked third placed sides, and secured their place against England in the last 16.
Stanislav Lobotka remains a major part of the side, with the midfielder a key cog in the Napoli machine as they won their first Scudetto in many years in 2022/23.
In defence, David Hancko has impressed for Arne Slot’s Feyenoord, winning the Eredivisie last season as his manager won the coveted position replacing Jürgen Klopp at Anfield.
Francesco Calzona
Calzona was Maurizio Sarri’s assistant manager at Napoli, Empoli and Cagliari, before taking over as the interim head coach of Napoli for the end of the 2023/24 campaign. He has been in charge of the Slovakia national side since 2022, taking them into the European Championships at the first time of asking.
