Slovakia midfielder Stanislav Lobotka told SportWeb what he thinks about the prospects of his national team at Euro 2024. The Slovaks will play in Group E with Belgium, Ukraine and Romania at the group stage of the tournament.
- Can we say that Slovakia has a stronger team now than at Euro 2020?
- I don't know if we have become stronger since then, but tactically we are definitely better now. And our style of play has improved. But it's risky to say it unequivocally before the start of the European Championship: what if we lose all the matches in the group, and what will be the price of these words?
Especially since at such tournaments the results are more important than the content of the game. But we have made progress over the last year, and I think it can be seen from the outside. Let's see how the tournament will go. The soccer field will show everything.
- In the first match at Euro 2024, Slovakia plays Belgium. Is it a plus or a minus - to start the tournament with a meeting with the strongest opponent of the group?
- It's great! But only until we lose.... (laughs). The calendar is as it is, there is nothing we can do about it. We will move from match to match.
Even if we start with Romania or Ukraine, we would have a tough match. So, I think, it almost doesn't matter who to play the opening match against. And it doesn't matter who is strong - it will be important to show our game. And then it will be seen what it will be enough for. For now, we can say one thing: nothing easy awaits us in the match with Belgium.
- If Slovakia wants to get out of the group, they must win at least once. Against whom do we have the best chance to win?
- We can beat both Ukraine and Romania. And with a bit of luck, we will have a chance against Belgium. When you meet a top team, you need to make the most of your abilities and have luck to succeed. That's how it is. We are not French or Spanish. We don't have the same quality as them in every position. But if we go against all odds, we can get at least a point with Belgium.
- What about Ukraine and Romania?
- They will not be easy matches for us. Both national teams have strong teams now. But if we were able to play openly and well against Portugal in qualifying, why not play the same way against Ukraine and Romania? We have to follow our style of play, we have it. It is not easy, but even for super teams it is not easy.
- Do you believe in the possibility of Slovakia getting out of the group?
- I look at it a little bit differently. I believe that we will give our best in every match, I can promise it one hundred percent. No one knows how the matches will turn out.
Translation and stylistic adaptation - Dynamo.kiev.ua, when using the material hyperlink is mandatory!