Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Capacity: 44530

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Bafokeng_Stadium

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is an football, rugby and athletics stadium in Phokeng near Rustenburg, South Africa. It was built and is managed by the Royal Bafokeng Nation[1]. It is used as the home stadium for Premier Soccer League club Platinum Stars. The Leopards host large attendance matches during the Currie Cup at the stadium, instead of their usual home ground, Olen Park.

The capacity of the stadium was increased from 38,000 to 44,530 to be able to host five first round matches and one second round match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup[2]. The Royal Bafokeng Stadium plays host to the round one Group C match between England and the United States on 12 June, 2010.

For the 2010 tournament, the main west stand was upgraded and enlarged and given a new cantilever roof. Other improvements include the installation of new electronic scoreboards, new seats, and the upgrading of the floodlights and public address system.

The stadium upgrade was completed in March 2009 for hosting 4 matches of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

 

I will tip this as a 2-0 win for Slovakia. A win of any kind against New Zealand would put Slovakia in a good position after today's draw with Italy and Paraguay. Neither looked outstanding.

Germany has shown to be the clear class of the teams who have played so far.

 

If they don't underestimate their opponents too much, Slovakia should win 0-2 or 0-3 comfortably! :thumbsup:

 

If they don't underestimate their opponents too much

Welcome to our history.

Anyway, I am optimistic, barely. Shame that Vittek isn't what he used to be up-front, that would make us 100x better.

A lot of pressure on Hamsik and Skrtel tomorrow, let's hope they stand strong.

 

Draw between ITA-PAR basically means that we have to win both games vs NZ and PAR. 6 pts is key to 1/16, not 4 and better score.

First round of the Group phase was way too carefull. If Slovakia wants to think about last 16 Weiss has no other option then to play attacking football.

 

I'm assuming Weiss will start like this...

Mucha

Pekarik - Skrtel - Durica - Cech

Strba

Stoch - Hamsik - Weiss

Sestak - Vittek​

Good luck to Slovakia later today, I hope you get the 3 points and give yourself a chance for progress to second round!

 

I'm assuming Weiss will start like this...



Good luck to Slovakia later today, I hope you get the 3 points and give yourself a chance for progress to second round!

we´ll do our best I guess :thumbsup:

btw this line-up is way too offensive. Weiss need some defensive cover because the boy can´t defend, Stoch too but to lesser extent. pLaying regular football in Netherlands helped him a bit to improve his defending but it´s still far from perfect.

One striker down, one midfielder up (Kucka ?)

 

I tip this as a bore 0-0.

 

I hope you are wrong.

 

Slovakia will win.

 

As if he didn't start Stoch .

Jendrisek :yuck:.

 

I dont understand this thinking you have a one goal lead and you give up on scoring goals. Argentina did the same thing and it should have cost them as well. I know Slovakia was pushing and had a great chance but the last 15 min it looked like they were happy with a 1-0 win. The problem is its only one goal and anything can happen and it did. Its too bad cause you guys were way better.

 

I agree 100% with you.

 

All in all I think Slovakia played a fantastic 2nd 45 minutes. The lapse in allowing the equalizer was obvious. But all in all, a much better performance in the second half. This group will not be easy, by any stretch, but we have seen that no side is playing over their heads yet. Sunday's match is crucial if Slovakia want to advance.

 

I hope I'm wrong in saying you've just blown your chances of progress.

 

Could have... It all depends on the next matches. If Slovakia can somehow take 3 points from Paraguay and New Zealand can somehow find a way to draw or even defeat Italy, it is a different matter.

A lot of "ifs" there.

 

:moan:

 

we were sitting on the lead way too early. Plus, Weiss made an mistake in putting Jendrisek on left flank. Did he want to look like a tactical genius or wtf ? Moron.

First half we had awfull trasitoin phase we played kick & run with midfield phased off. Durica made at least 10 bad passes, Skrtel 5.

My MOTM Vladi Weiss jr.

 

This game ended the way I expected, very poor negative mentality from Slovakia (similar to Czechs). The only way this limited New Zealand team could score was from the long ball into the box and Slovakia was warned 10 minutes before the end when they allowed a free header in the box. Why does Weiss replace the best players on the pitch (Weiss, Sestak) when the game is at 1-0??? Slovakia started and ended the match extremely poor. Except for Weiss and Sestak, who else was playing? Is Hamsik a defensive midfielder, he didn't create anything. Durica needs to check his eyesight, he must be seeing blue instead of white...Vittek and Jendrisek were totally useless (except for Vittek's header). Who's the boss of the penalty area? Skrtel and Durica were looking at each other instead of attacking the ball...Poor but typical

 

as a team, we played cluelessly. First 45 minutes tragedy on pitch and kick & run style, 30 minutes of the 2nd half solid, then the last 15 minutes sitting on the lead and shaking ourselves in the boots. I don´t know what else to say. Zabavnik & Cech good, Skrtel solid besides his awfull passing, Durica surpirisingly solid but his passing was beyond awfull. Skrtel & Durica negated their overall hard work with this stupid goal.

Captain bombastic let the Schmelz sent the cross to the box which led to the equaliser. Thank you for nothing, Hamsik. So much hype and when the World CUp comes, he´s non factor. If he were doing his defensive duties properly, he wouldn´t let Schmelz send the ****ing cross to the penalty area. He deserves his share of blame for this goal.

Jendrisek just bad offensively, solid defensively. Vittek played like shit, with the exception of his offside goal. Had another 2 good opportunities and wasn´t able to bury them, this cost us a game. World Cup striker who needs 10 chaces for 1 goal my ass. Šesták was solid but it´s obvious he´s missing confidence in converting chances.


Both fullbacks were rock solid imo, Zabavnik got bruised several times but he never complained, true warrior. Marek Cech solid as well. Zdeno Štrba good job, serving big area and he got little help from the flanks.

Only player I´m really proud for, was young Vladi Weiss. He showed the potential and class and despite his young age, he was our best player

 

Kiwis had like 2 or 3 shots on net and scored one :wallbang:

**** this shit.

 

wish I had 1% of your confidence in this team

 

What were the odds Slovakia would have made it to the World Cup in the first place?

I know, I know... I am likely overestimating.

 

I think Shebby Singh eek summed it up pretty well. "It was like watching second division football".

 

who the **** is Shebby Singh ?

 

what a ****ing day

 

Perhaps I need to find a Slovakian club to support as well. That would be a challenging process, I know. MFK Kosice or Lokomotiv... Hmmm...

 

definitely good starting point.

 

How about Artmedia?? Sounds like a production house more than a football club.

Just realized this is the Slovakian section. I thought all along I was posting in the World Cup forum thread

 

How about Artmedia?? Sounds like a production house more than a football club.

relegated to 2nd div

Just realized this is the Slovakian section. I thought all along I was posting in the World Cup forum thread

hey that´s fine, welcome here & feel free to stay with us all you want

 

You could see within the first 5 minutes that the mentality just isn't there to perform at this level.

Nice while it lasted.

 

You could see within the first 5 minutes that the mentality just isn't there to perform at this level.

Nice while it lasted.[/QUOTE

Completely agreed, with the exception of Weiss jr and Sestak, other players are not mentally ready for the big stage

 

Main responsibility for the goal is on Hamsik and Durica.

We didn´t qualify thanks to Durica but despite the Durica and Weiss owes him nothing, I don´t understand his endless belief in this waste of human flesh.

This stupid draw is on Weiss sr.

Jozef Adamec pointed on a bad substitution of Weiss and Vittek. Young Weiss was the only player able to keep the ball for longer time, and Vittek was our only offensive player strong in the air, who could help out our defence in dying minutes.

 

I was truly impressed with Weiss, Jr. His quality, pace and skill are clear. What surprised me even more was his composure for most of the match, for someone so young. He will continue to bring Slovakia along for years to come...

But he will need some help, too.

 

Has anyone been able to find the 10-11 Slovakia Home Jersey available for sale here in the States? The websites I normally use have size Small available. That is not quite going to fit.

I like the white Away shirt, but the blue is amazing!