INTO THE FALCONS' NEST

It's time Sam and his boys stood up and were counted (or at least accounted for) as England slip quietly into another round of international qualifications for a tournament we know we don't have a chance of winning but we all live in hope. By the time the World Cup Finals come round in 2018 we shall no longer have the motivation of "it's been 50 years since 1966".

What ever, Sam is our new hope and he has control of yet another English "Golden Generation". This week the Lions are heading towards the Falcons of Slovakia (Slovenski Sokoli) a nation only recently freed from the shackles of Czechoslovakia. Of course this freedom meant therefore they are only "half a country".

The Slovaks first official match was against Germany in 1939 in Bratislava resulting in a remarkable 2-0 victory. Here are the chaps ready for action.

After the War, the country was subsumed into Czechoslovakia and played no football as an independent state, though Slovakians made a major contribution to the Czechoslovakian side (8 players out of 11) that won the 1976 European Championships.

So Sam's boys are heading to play a World Cup 2018 Qualifying tie at the 20,000 capacity Stadio Antona Malatinskeho. This is named after the legendry Anton Malatinsky, a player and manager of the national side. He died in 1992 but made his name for Spartak Trnava, turning out 6 times for Slovakia and 10 times for the Czechoslovakian team. Legendry, well apparently enough to have a stadium named after him?

Their previous national stadium has artificial turf so is not acceptable in FIFA competitions.

Remember that we found the Falcons (and Martin Skrtl) difficult to break down in France (0-0) this Summer and they beat Russia, losing to Wales. Reaching the knock out phase somehow, the Falcons lost 3-0 to the efficient German side.

England also has the added hurdles of Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuanian and Malta to jump by the end of March 2017, before we head off to Russia!  

Where is Slovakia?