Slovakia odds to win Euro 2024: Probability, path to final, tactics, stats and key players for England clash

Slovakia reached the knockout stages of Euro 2024 after finishing third in Group E.

As part of Czechoslovakia, they famously became champions in 1976, but since independence, their best finish has been a Round of 16 run in 2016 (and now).

They are a firm underdog, led by Francesco Calzona, who simultaneously coached Napoli for the end of the 2023/24 season.

Slovakia route to the Euro 2024 final in Berlin

Group stage fixtures

• Belgium 0-1 Slovakia (17 June 2024, 5pm, Waldstadion)
• Ukraine 2-1 Slovakia (21 June 2024, 2pm, Merkur Spiel-Arena)
• Romania 0-0 (26 June 2024, 5pm, Waldstadion)

Slovakia potential knockout stage opponents

Slovakia advanced to the knockout stage as one of the four best third-place teams. Their reward is a Round of 16 clash with England, whom they’ve never beaten, though in their only competitive tournament meeting at Euro 2016, they played out a goalless draw. If they can overcome Gareth Southgate’s men, a quarter-final date with Switzerland awaits. They’ll face Romania, the Netherlands, Austria, or Turkey in the semifinals. Spain, Germany, Portugal, and France are on the other side of the draw and could be their final opponents.

Slovakia key players for this year’s European Championship

Slovakia top Euros Golden Boot contender: Ivan Schranz

• Key stat: Schranz has just five international goals to his name and two of them have come at Euro 2024.
  

There’s still time for striker Robert Bozenik to get going but at present, he’s being overshadowed at the tournament by Ivan Schranz, who has two goals to his name. Only Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze (3) and Germany’s Jamal Musiala (3) are outscoring the Slavia Prague forward so far.

Lukáš Haraslín finished as the leading Slovakia goalscorer in their qualifying program and has taken their most shots on target at Euro 2024 so far (4).

Slovakia primary playmaker: Lukáš Haraslín

• Key stat: Haraslín has created more chances (7) than any Slovakia player at Euro 2024.

The left-winger creates exclusively through crosses but the majority of Slovakia’s goals at the Euros so far have been headers (2/3). Haraslín has a highest expected assist total than any teammate so far (0.72).

Slovakia card magnets & top tacklers: Ondrej Duda

• Key stat: Ondrej Duda (10) received more yellow cards than any Slovakia player across Europe’s top seven leagues in 2023/24.

Duda has conceded seven fouls at Euro 2024. Before a handful of players have a worse record at the tournament so far, none of them Slovakian. He has picked up a yellow card already and has also made more tackles than any compatriot (4).

Slovakia rising star: Leo Sauer

Leo Sauer is one of a handful of teenagers playing at Euro 2024, having been born in December 2005. The 18-year-old joined Feyenoord from MSK Zilina last summer and has already played his way to a contract extension, despite splitting his time between the U21 and first team squad. He has also played his way into a first senior Slovakia call-up in March, playing two games so far.

Slovakia set-piece specialists

• Penalties: TBC
  
• Free kicks: Duda/Haraslín/Kucka/Hancko
  
• Corners: Duda/Haraslín
  

Slovakia stats and formation

Slovakia team stats from qualifying (average per game):

• Corners in qualifying: 7.3
• Corners conceded: 3.5
• Shots on target: 3.8
• Shots on target conceded: 3.8
• Offsides: 2.7

Martin Dúbravka and Milan Škriniar are two of the more familiar Slovakia players to fans generally. The other is Stanislav Lobotka, who anchors Slovakia’s midfield having had a lot of time with Calzona while the pair were at Napoli towards the end of the 2023/24 Serie A campaign. Since his appointment, Calzona has exclusively used a 4-3-3 so it would be a surprise if Slovakia lined up in any other way against England. What then matters is the personnel that are fielded within, as there are several options to hug Slovakia’s flank and keep Lobotka company in the engine room.

Slovakia final squad

Read more on Euro 2024:

• Which teams have qualified for Euro 2024?
• When is the Euro 2024 final?