As World Cup participants prepare for the finals in Russia, many countries that have missed the World Cup will also have the opportunity to retest the selection teams before the summer break. On Thursday evening, Slovakia will be hosting the Netherlands in the City Arena of Trnava. Both national teams must watch in the summer, when the best 32 nations fight for the football crown. In 2010 both countries were still at the World Cup. Slovakia had the first and only time in a World Cup in South Africa and dropped out in the second round against the Netherlands (1-2). The Dutch failed even in the final to Spain. So far, the Elftal is still unbeaten against Slovakia. In the second clash, in a 2012 friendly, Oranje also won 2-1 at home.
Slovakia:
Slovakia had finished Group F second in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup behind England. The two games against England and the away games in Slovenia and in Scotland had been lost. Six of the ten games were won. In the ten games conceded only seven goals. Nevertheless, as the worst runners-up, Slovakia could not qualify for the play-off matches, as only the eight best-in-class second-placed could play the deciding matches in nine groups. In 2016, the “Repre” had reached a European Championship finals for the first time in France. As a third in the table, the Slovaks even made it to the round of 16 of the tournament, but failed there with 0: 3 at the German national team.
In the upcoming Nations League, the Slovak Falcons will meet in September 2018 on Ukraine and the Czech Republic. In the last five internationals, there was only one defeat for the Slovaks with 1: 2 in Ukraine. The remaining games were all won. The opponents were Norway, Thailand, Malta and the United Arab Emirates. Since 2013 the “Repre” is being trained by Ján Kozák. After the game against the Netherlands, the Slovaks test against Morocco on 4 June. Defender Martin Skrtel is injured for both matches. In Kozák’s squad for the two games are Peter Pekarik and Andrew Duda also two Bundesliga professionals (both from the Hertha). On the other hand, players like Dusan Svento, Vladimir Weiss, Filip Kiss and Marek Bakos are also missing. However, the coach can rely on Italian legionaries Marek Hamsik of SSC Napoli and Milan Skriniar of Inter Milan.
Netherlands:
After the missed European Championships 2016, the next big event without the Oranje takes place. In May 2017, Dick Advocaat had taken over the post of Bondcoach after five matchdays of the World Cup qualifiers from Danny Blind. But Advocaat could no longer lead the team to the World Cup in Russia and was fired again in November 2017. The Netherlands finished third in qualifying Group A, behind France and Sweden. The two games against France and the match in Bulgaria were lost. In the end, they missed the play-offs only because of the worse goal difference. Since 23rd March 2018, Ronald Koeman is now the new national coach. He tries to rejuvenate the team. Anyway, Arjen Robben from Bayern declared his retirement from the national team. Ryan Babel is currently only one player in Oranje’s squad older than 30.
In Koemans debut, the Dutch lost 1-0 at home to England. The second test match under the new coach could Oranje but win: 3-0 in Portugal. Under Koeman it is now finally up for the Dutch again. The former defense chief enjoys a reputation as a result coach. He relies on a well-organized defense. The focus here is Virgil van Dijk, who was with his move from Southampton to Liverpool with 80 million euros to the most expensive defender in the world. For the Dutch, the preparation for the Nations League begins with the friendly match against Slovakia, which begins in early September. There you meet in group A on France and Germany. A success in the newly created competition could qualify the Elftal for the European Championship in 2020. In addition to the game against Slovakia, Holland is still testing against Italy on 4 June. In the last eleven international matches Holland had to accept only two bankruptcies: in France and at home against England. The remaining nine games were all won.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1.78
