Gareth Southgate is gearing England up for a showdown with Slovakia on Sunday (Image: Getty)
Slovakia are not to be underestimated. Having watched them beat Belgium and draw with Romania from the stands of the Frankfurt Arena, it's clear that they can make life difficult for any team.
England will have been punching the air when they avoided Holland in the last 16 of Euro 2024. But the game against Slovakia, particularly with the Three Lions' recent form in mind, may not be as straightforward as one might think.
The key for England, and what should be a priority for Gareth Southgate, is giving his side extra bite at the top end of the pitch. Defence is the strongest part of Slovakia's game and they will be tough to break down.
They shut out a Belgium side who had the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku banging ferociously on the door in the closing stages of their 1-0 defeat. Looking at Slovakia's back-line on an individual level, it's not hard to see why.
Taking charge of the battle with England striker Harry Kane will be Milan Skriniar. The 29-year-old was reportedly the subject of a £60million bid from Paris Saint-Germain in 2022, and he joined them on a free transfer the following year.
Skriniar has 70 international caps and almost 250 Inter Milan appearances on his CV, and he's been in the top bracket of European defenders for the past five years. To his left: David Hancko.
Milan Skriniar is Slovakia's leader at the back (Image: Getty)
Rumour has it, new Liverpool manager Arne Slot is weighing up a move for Feyenoord's Hancko, who he managed in Holland. The defender can play at centre-back, but he has played on the left side of Slovakia's defence so far at Euro 2024.
That extra solidity stemming from his experience in central areas will make him a tough nut to crack for Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer or whoever Southgate picks on the right wing. Patrolling the base of midfield is Napoli star Stanislav Lobotka.
Slovakia's side is crammed full of lesser-known players with serious pedigree, and Lobotka is one of them. He's 5ft 6in but certainly no pushover, with strength and a low centre of gravity making him a tough competitor.
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If England breach those three, there's still Martin Dubravka to get past. The stopper has been superb so far this tournament, and as a six-year veteran on Newcastle United's books, he knows many of England's players well.
With this being said, and to reiterate the overarching point, England will need an edge to their attacking play if they are to hurt Slovakia - the kind of edge that has been absent against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia.
Whether that leads to starting line-up changes remains to be seen. But with the Three Lions' big names faltering; the likes of Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon, who have impressed during cameos off the bench, may come into their own for England during the knockout stages.
