EURO 2024 Fantasy: Slovakia top picks
In this article, we take a look at the top Slovakia picks for Euro 2024 Fantasy. It takes into account player form, the nation’s recent results, how they achieved qualification and anything else of relevance.
Knowing who’s likely to start could be hugely beneficial to Fantasy managers, as Slovakia are competing in an even-looking group where up to three could progress.
RECENT TIMES
Having failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, Slovakia quickly lost to Kazakhstan (twice) and Azerbaijan in their Nations League campaign. All-time great Marek Hamsik was just about to retire too. They were at a low point.
However, the playmaker’s bond with Napoli staff member Francesco Calzona led to the latter being put in charge. In fact, for the past few months, he’s been job-sharing after returning to the Serie A side on an interim basis – this time as head coach. Classy midfielder Stanislav Lobotka (€5.5m) plays for both.
Things gradually started to improve after opening with a 0-0 at home to Luxembourg. Thanks to completed doubles over Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, they ended up being the only team from ‘Pot 5’ to qualify.
Furthermore, they finished on the joint-most runner-up points alongside Slovenia.
FIXTURES
Sokoli began preparations for their third consecutive Euros by losing to Austria and drawing with Norway in March. Between now and their opening match are friendlies versus San Marino and Wales.
In truth, the Group E draw has been fairly kind to Calzona’s side. All heavyweights have been avoided, with top seed Belgium transitioning into a new generation of talent.
As well as that, second place wouldn’t have to face a group winner in the Round of 16. It’d be one of two ties involving nobody from first place.
- 17 June: Belgium (Frankfurt)
- 21 June: Ukraine (Dusseldorf)
- 26 June: Romania (Frankfurt)
TOP PICKS
Martin Dubravka (€4.5m)
No Slovakian in Euro 2024 Fantasy currently exceeds 1% ownership but Dubravka – just like in the latest FPL season – has use as a cheap goalkeeper.
He kept five clean sheets during nine qualifiers, helped by having the quality of Milan Skriniar (€5.5m) and Denis Vavro (€4.5m) at centre-back.
And yet, of all this summer’s participating stoppers, only Giorgi Mamardashvili (€4.5m) made more saves (27).
Lukas Haraslin (€6.5m)
After spending time in Italy, Haraslin is excelling at Sparta Prague and netted 16 times throughout all 2023/24 competitions.
For his nation, the left-sided attacker scored twice against Iceland and once at home to Bosnia. He’s their most expensive Fantasy asset.
David Hancko (€4.5m)
Meanwhile, attacking left-back Hancko racked up the most goal involvements of all team-mates, with two goals and three assists.
From the 24 qualified countries, his 17 chances created were joint-best among defenders and joint-11th overall. To show it wasn’t a fluke, he just scored seven goals in the most recent campaign for club side Feyenoord.
The sole Slovak to feature in all 10 qualifiers, Hancko’s positive-thinking could make him a Fantasy bargain.
ONE TO WATCH
Robert Bozenik (€6.0m)
Moving to the forwards, Boavista’s Bozenik should stave off competition from Robert Polievka (€5.5m) despite a mere two strikes from his latest 31 caps.
Club goals are fairly low too, with the 24-year-old grabbing 15 within 85 appearances since 2020/21.
