The UEFA Euro 2016 features plenty of exciting fixtures to feast your eyes upon. One of them is this upcoming match between Wales and Slovakia in Group B of Euro 2016. It’s going to be one hell of a matchup with both Wales and Slovakia aiming to open their campaigns with victories. Read on as we take a look at this intriguing match.
Gareth Bale. Remember that name ladies and gentlemen. The Real Madrid striker is the only prolific scorer on the Wales team, scoring seven of the team’s 11 goals in qualifying. Bale will lead his team’s preferred counter-attacking style, which could provide them with plenty of goal-scoring opportunities.
Wales should be able to implement their style with a solid five-man defensive unit to keep their side of the field tight. Just exactly how solid is their defense? They gave up just four goals in qualifying to make the Euro 2016 final tournament.
While Bale is the Welsh’s go-to guy, it’s not too difficult to see someone else scoring on the team. Aaron Ramsey is a sleeper with 10 goals through 38 career caps. Having defenses focused solely on the Real Madrid star should allow Ramsey to sneak by for an unexpected goal.
Wales are yet to win a match this year, with two losses and a draw in three international friendlies heading into Euro 2016.
Slovakia are ranked just 32nd in the FIFA World Rankings, but they have a team that can hold their own against any team in the world. Captain Martin Skrtel solidifies their defense, while Juraj Kucka and Victor Pecovsky are formidable midfielders. Star striker Marek Hamsik gives the Slovakian firepower with five goals in qualifying.
The Slovaks made the final tournament with a huge shocker, handing defending Euro champions Spain their first qualifying defeat in eight years in 2014. Slovakia aren’t exactly a deep team with most of their talent concentrated on their starting XI. They could have a wonderful game against Wales considering that they’re all still fresh and ready to grind it out.
Despite their lack in depth, Slovakia still have Robert Vittek available off the bench. He’s the country’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 23 goals in 82 caps. Vittek shouldn’t be a center-point for the Slovaks until deep into matches, where he can still make some damage at 34 years old.
Slovakia are unbeaten in their last four matchups, including a victory against current world champions Germany in an international friendly May 29.
Writer’s Prediction
Both teams get their chances, but eventually settle for a 1-1 tie (+178).
