Preview: Estimated line -up Slovakia – Italy at Euro U21 2025
BRATISLAVA. It was summer 2023 and it seemed that the career of Tomáš Suslova was not divets in the right direction. He won a departure from Groningen and received a problem player in the Netherlands.
It seemed to end up in Slovan in Bratislava, to which he is very close to the agency representing him.
However, there was a fundamental turnover. After arriving in Hellas Verona, he quickly caught up and shows again that he has the reputation of one of the greatest talents of Slovak football.
« It’s a fantasy, a football romantic. There are not many of them in Italy, » Tomasso Badio from Hellas Verona described it.
Suslov’s specific match is waiting for Saturday.
In the second match to Euro U21 2025 will be challenged Slovak youths peers from Italy. It is played at 21.00 HV Trnava (broadcasts stations of sport).
This is a lot. If our representatives want to think of advancement to the quarterfinals, they have to score.
Links with Italy
« He has imagination, speed and technology, moreover he can play in several positions. It is really a big discovery for Veron, » Badio added.
Last season Suslov in the jersey Verony did not score once, yet Hellas fans chose him as the second best player of the club. The poll was won by his compatriot Ondrej Duda.
This is also evidenced by the popularity of the Slovaks in Serie A. Three dozen Slovak footballers tried the highest Italian competition. As for the four best leagues of the world, most of our representatives were going there. Sitting the most.
The connection with Italian football was even more aimed by the engagement of Francesco Calzon, who knows the national team.
Most of the contemporary Slovak representatives also experienced the Seria A, they speak Italian and the greatest success of Slovak football to Italy. Ten days later, it will be exactly 15 years since the Slovaks at the World Championship in Africa overcame the then reigning World Champions 3: 2.
Two Tomas
Suslov was one of the 15 best dribrales of the Italian league in the last season.
« At one point, it seemed that Verona had twelve or thirteen players, and there are two or three Tomas on the pitch, » Badia praised him.
Several clubs are interested in Suslova: FC Genoa, Fiorentina, Bologna, but also Juventus Turin, Wolverhampton, or Nice. However, the offer that would correspond to the expectations of Verona, namely EUR 15 million, has not yet come. The contract ends in Verona in the summer of 2027.
On Saturday the Italians will try to disgust Suslova. They know it well, know how he lives and discusses the referees. He got a yellow card in the first match against Spain.
Italy’s defenders at 21 Diego Coppola and Daniele Ghilardi are teammates Suslova in Verona.
« I also have a teammate from Verona on the team, but I know several guys, as we come against each other in Serie A. They also have an incredible quality, but it may be a little different match, » Suslov expects.
Rather, he has grown up
The experience of Serie A also brought Cagliari Cagliari Calcio Adam Obert.
« The pressure will certainly be there, everyone is both nervous and individually, but we have to be able to play like this. I believe that we will enter the match well and it will turn out well, » Obert added.
Adam Obert (left) and Diego Lopez in the match Slovakia – Spain in Group A to EURO U21 2025 (European Championship under 21). (Author: TASR)
He has been in Italy for seven years. In 2018 he transferred from Brno to Sampdoria Genoa, where he played only junior competition. Three years later he headed to Cagliari Calcio. He made his debut in the Italian league at nineteen.
« This country means a lot to me, I came to Italy at fifteen. The beginnings were very difficult, I was there without a family, quite young. But it gave me a lot, especially mentally, » believes Obert. Overall, he scored 44 starts in Serie A.
He played 21 matches this season, scoring one goal. However, he did not have a place in the basic line -up.
« I certainly have reached that. Who knows how my career would develop if I didn’t go to Italy at the time. Maybe I wouldn’t play today at the home tournament, » the Slovak defensive leader intended.
Kentoš is preparing changes
The specialized Transfermarkt server on behalf of Adam Obert gives the price of three million, thus underestimating the Slovak. He still has only twenty -two and is left.
« Cagliari will not sell it for less than 10 million euros, » estimates Emanuele Olla, editor -in -chief of Cagliarinews24, for Sportnet.
Obert extended the contract with Cagliari until the summer of 2029. The Italian club sees a diamond that can monetize.
« The club wants to focus on Oberta and is unlikely to sell it in the summer. The European Championship under 21 will be a good business card, but Cagliari does not intend to sell Oberta.
Obert will defend his teammate on Saturday, Matteo Prati midfielder.
« I will not take care of him during the match, we will certainly not be friends on the pitch. But after the duel we will serve our hand and return everything to normal, » Obert admitted.
In the first match, the Slovaks lost to Spain 2: 3, the Italians conquered Romania 1: 0. Coach Jaroslav Kentoš admitted that he is preparing changes in the lineup.
