Vladimír Weiss Sr. Reflects on Slovakia’s World Cup Journey and Upcoming Playoff

Bratislava – Vladimír Weiss Sr. Remains the sole coach in recent Slovak football history to have guided the national team to the FIFA World Cup. At the 2010 championship in South Africa, his team achieved a stunning victory over the defending champions, Italy, before being eliminated in the round of 16 following a 2-1 loss to the Netherlands. Now, Slovakia has the opportunity to repeat this feat after a sixteen-year absence, and Weiss Sr. Is hopeful for the current generation as they prepare for the World Cup playoff in March.

Playoff Challenge Ahead

The first hurdle in securing a spot in the tournament is a semi-final clash against Kosovo, scheduled for Thursday, March 26th at 8:45 p.m. At the National Football Stadium (NFŠ) in Bratislava. Should Slovakia advance, they will face the winner of the Turkey-Romania match at the same venue on Tuesday, March 31st.

“This is a game marking the 20th anniversary of Slovak football. I will sincerely be rooting for Francesco Calzona and the entire team. This generation deserves to qualify; they are all mature players from prominent clubs,” stated Weiss Sr.

Son’s Exclusion from National Team

Notably, Weiss Sr.’s son, Vladimír Weiss Jr., is no longer part of the national team squad under Calzona. He earned 77 caps and scored 8 goals for Slovakia. Whereas many observers believed Weiss Jr. Still had much to offer, Calzona opted to build the team without him. Despite this personal disappointment, the elder Weiss continues to support his Italian colleague.

“I am saddened by what happened to Vlad. As a father, it’s demanding to accept, but as a coach, I wish him all the best because he understands football. Tactically, he is astute, and he has chosen players suited to a high-pressing style. Dúbravka, Škriniar, Lobotka, Strelec, Haraslín, and Hancko are all players who deserve to be at the World Cup. Qualifying for the championship would be a significant achievement,” Weiss Sr. Commented.

Support from the Stands

The captain of Slovan Bratislava, a team Weiss Sr. Led to a Champions League appearance in the recent past, will be present at the sold-out Tehelno polí stadium on Thursday.

“Kosovo has excellent players, but so does our team. We have the advantage of playing at home, and I believe that will truly feel like a home environment. After many years, I will also be attending a national team match,” added Weiss Sr.