Slovak squad includes stars recovering from injuries, young talents

Jun 1, 2010, 10:17 GMT

Prague - Slovakia's national team coach Vladimir Weiss on Tuesday included several players on the way back from injury in his final 23-member squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

The final squad included Besiktas striker Filip Holosko, who broke his leg last year, and Olympique Lille attacker Robert Vittek, who had a knee injury.

'There are still question marks,' Weiss told a press conference televised on the TA3 news channel, referring to the two players. 'In case of an injury anything can happen.'

Weiss also nominated Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, who recently recovered from a foot injury. The squad includes the expected star, Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik.

But Weiss also nominated ambitious young talent, such as midfielders Juraj Kucka, Miroslav Stoch and Vladimir Weiss junior, the coach's 20-year-old son who was on loan at Bolton this season from Manchester City.

'The nomination consists of players who are best in Slovakia,' the coach said.

The Slovak team is in Group F at the tournament against world champions Italy, Paraguay and New Zealand.

Slovakia qualified to the World Cup for the first time, by winning its group, which included the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Northern Ireland and Poland. In their first game on June 15 Slovakia are to face New Zealand.

Goalkeepers: Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw), Dusan Kuciak (Vaslui), Dusan Pernis (Dundee United)

Defenders: Marek Cech (West Bromwich Albion), Jan Durica (Hannover 96), Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg), Martin Petras (Cesena), Kornel Salata (Slovan Bratislava), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool), Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz)

Midfielders: Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava), Jan Kozak (Politehnica), Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague), Marek Sapara (Ankaraqucu), Zdeno Strba (Skoda Xanthi), Miroslav Stoch (Twente Enschede), Vladimir Weiss (Manchester City)

Strikers: Filip Holosko (Besiktas Istanbul), Martin Jakubko (Moskva), Erik Jendrisek (Schalke), Stanislav Sestak (Bochum), Robert Vittek (Olympique Lille)