Skriniar and Slovakia look to ‘write history’ against vulnerable England

Slovakia captain Milan Skriniar in action against Romania, where a 1-1 draw helped his team finish third in Group E.Slovakia captain Milan Skriniar in action against Romania, where a 1-1 draw helped his team finish third in Group E.. Milan Skriniar prepared to offer his perspective on Sunday’s meeting but had to wait while the Slovakia kitman, Marek Kosan, took the floor.

The notion is hardly far-fetched. Quiet confidence radiates from a squad that did not resemble impostors when beating Belgium 11 days ago, taking their chance when it came and weathering a subsequent storm. Tension reverberates from England’s every move and Slovakia know it. “There will be a lot of pressure on them,” Skriniar says. “That may be an advantage for us, because they really need to convince the world they came here to win.

Or, more precisely, until Marek Hamsik picked up the phone. Calzona had worked successfully alongside Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti at Napoli; also with Hamsik, whose dozen years at the Serie A club brought semi-deific status. It was illuminating to hear the 36-year-old Hamsik, now a suitably mohawk-less member of the coaching staff and next up after Skriniar had taken his leave, explain his role in shaping Slovakia’s present-day image.

Hamsik’s role is, in the words of the FA’s general secretary, Peter Palencik, to provide “a kind of bridge” between players and management. He is often lent on to translate Calzona’s ideas from Italian. “It was a good and wise decision to have him here,” Palencik says. “He’s a big icon, very well respected by the current players.

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