Duel of the unsuccessful. Slovaks and Slovenes feel motivated – National team – Football – Sport – Pravda – PRAVDA.sk

Slovak and Slovenian footballers had higher ambitions. They believed that in the H-group of the MS 2022 qualification they would be beaten at least for a place in the playoffs. They lost this chance before the finish and they will not play in Qatar for a year.

Photo: TASR / AP, Darko Bandic

Stanislav Lobotka escapes the Slovenian defense.

Tomorrow, a match of the disappointed and unsuccessful will take place in Trnava from 8.45 pm. Whoever wins will occupy the third place in the table, which no longer solves anything. Both teams claim that they still have great motivation.

According to Štefan Tarkovič, representing the most is what both the player and the coach can achieve. “We want to win, to be third in the group, to build on previous games in the game and in terms of results. We have enough goals to keep the motivation at the highest level.

But the opponent thinks similarly, his coach has already stated that he wants to win with us, he has called the best players he has to the team, “the Slovak coach emphasized.

The Slovaks have always struggled with the Slovenes and the mutual balance is good for the opponent. Out of seven matches, they enjoyed winning only once, more than four years ago in Trnava in the World Cup 2018 (1: 0) qualification.

In the next matches, three draws and losses were born, and even the Slovak shooters did not excel – they gave the opponent only four goals.

Nevertheless, Tarkovič’s charges are moderate favorites of the match, they rank 40th in the FIFA rankings, Slovenia is in 64th place. Tarkovič highlights the qualities of the opponent.

“We have a strong team ahead of us. It has always been a very difficult match with him, sometimes the Slovenes really messed up our heads. They are building a team and they will want to show us the best possible face.

There are several football players in the team, who are European stars and players such as Šeško, Iličič, Verbič, Lovrič, Šporar, whom we also know from Slovakia, are strong in the offensive. I expect a very challenging and balanced fight again and I believe that it is a good end for us. “

There are no newcomers to Tarkovich’s nomination this time around, but the coach has indicated that players who have had less in the qualification so far may also get a chance.

Read more Slovaks are at risk of the worst result. They weren’t so bad yet

“I would be pleased if the match brought an attractive football for the spectator. We strive for him. Of course, this is not always optimal. Not a single team is playing for promotion anymore, they do not feel such pressure, but they will want to show themselves in a good light, so the meeting can be interesting. “

After two preparatory matches, since 2008 tomorrow’s opponents have been meeting only in the fight for participation in the world championship. Both advanced from the first qualification (WC 2010), in the next two (WC 2018, 2022) they remained at the gates of the tournaments.

Slovenian coach Matjaž Kek relies on proven names. In his 25-year nomination, there are only three players from domestic clubs. “We have lost the chance to advance to the World Cup, but there is no time for experiments. Every match is important in the national team, “he said.

In the first match in September in Ljubljana, a draw was born (1: 1). The guests led to Boženík’s goal after half an hour of play, but in ten minutes the defender Stojanovič equalized.

MS 2022 QUALIFICATION

H-group program

November 11

18.00 Russia – Cyprus
20.45 Malta – Croatia
20.45 Slovakia – Slovenia

November 14

15.00 Croatia – Russia
15.00 Malta – Slovakia
15.00 Slovenia – Cyprus

H-group results

March 24

20.45 Cyprus – Slovakia 0: 0
20.45 Malta – Russia 1: 3
20.45 Slovenia – Croatia 1: 0

March 27

15.00 Russia – Slovenia 2: 1
18.00 Croatia – Cyprus 1: 0
20.45 Slovakia – Malta 2: 2

March 30

18.00 Cyprus – Slovenia 1: 0

20.45 Croatia – Malta 3: 0

20.45 Slovakia – Russia 2: 1

September 1

20.45 Malta – Cyprus 3: 0
20.45 Russia – Croatia 0: 0
20.45 Slovenia – Slovakia 1: 1

September 4

15.00 Cyprus – Russia 0: 2
18.00 Slovenia – Malta 1: 0
20.45 Slovakia – Croatia 0: 1

September 7

20.45 Croatia – Slovenia 3: 0
20.45 Russia – Malta 2: 0
20.45 Slovakia – Cyprus 2: 0

October 8

20.45 Cyprus – Croatia 0: 3

20.45 Malta – Slovenia 0: 4

20.45 Russia – Slovakia 1: 0

October 11

20.45 Croatia – Slovakia 2: 2

20.45 Cyprus – Malta 2: 2

20.45 Slovenia – Russia 1: 2