Slovakia will ‘do everything’ to upset Ireland tonight

Slovakia boss Jan Kozak has talked up Ireland’s players ahead of their meeting in Dublin — but he expects his own stars to “do everything” to pull off a win tonight.

Slovakia face the Republic of Ireland in Dublin still waiting for their 100th win after a 0-0 draw with Latvia in their 251st fixture on Friday.

Kozak will field the same side which played out a stalemate with Latvia in on Friday night in Dublin as, much like opposite number Martin O’Neill, he attempts to asses all possible options before naming his final 23.

“The Irish team is a very good team — they beat Bosnia-Herzegovina (in the play-offs), who are a good team — so I expect those players will do everything in order to win,” said Kozak.

Kozak will use the trip to the Aviva Stadium and a June clash with Northern Ireland on the eve of the tournament to acclimatise his players to the style of football they might expect when they face England and Wales in France at the Euro finals.

“In both matches, I want to check all my players and try to give them as much time as I can in order to get the satisfaction that I have done everything I can for all the players, and that I am sure all of them are ready.”

The draw for the tournament in France this summer pitched the Slovakians into Group B battle with Roy Hodgson’s men as well as Wales and Russia.

Kozak said: “I expect and I hope that we will be a tough team for any team we play. With regard to England, there is a difference between preparation for a championship and the championship itself.

“Everybody knows what English football means. I expect a very good performance from England because they didn’t lose a point during qualification.

“But still as I said, there is a difference between the championship and qualification.”

Slovakia earned their ticket to the finals by finishing as runners-up behind Spain, who they beat 2-1 in Zilina, in Group C, and while they may be considered the underdogs alongside three so-called bigger nations in France, Kozak is confident they can more than compete.