Slovakia Euro 2016 squad announced, Liverpool’s Skrtel to lead

Kozak said he had cut a provisional 27-man squad to 23 players after Sunday’s friendly in which Slovakia stunned Germany 3-1 in Augsburg.

Slovakia coach Jan Kozak named a 23-man squad for Euro 2016 on Monday, led by captain and Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel and Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik.

Slovakia’s Martin Skrtel challenges for the ball during a friendly soccer match between Germany and Slovakia in LiverpooAugsburg, Germany on Sunday. (AP)

Kozak said he had cut a provisional 27-man squad to 23 players after Sunday’s friendly in which Slovakia stunned Germany 3-1 in Augsburg.

“I could see all players were healthy enough to go to the tournament,” the 62-year-old said after saying good-bye to Almaty defender Lukas Tesak, midfielders Matus Bero of Trencin and Erik Sabo of PAOK, and Slovan Bratislava striker Adam Zrelak.

“There’s a backup for each position and some players can play in several positions,” Kozak told reporters.

At their first Euro finals ever, Slovakia will face Wales, Russia and England in Group B in France.

Slovakia squad:

Goalkeepers: Matus Kozacik (Viktoria Pilsen/CZE), Jan Mucha (Slovan Bratislava), Jan Novota (Rapid Vienna/AUT)

Defenders: Peter Pekarik (Hertha Berlin/GER), Milan Skriniar (Sampdoria/ITA), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool/ENG), Norbert Gyoember (Roma/ITA), Jan Durica (Lokomotiv Moscow/RUS), Kornel Salata (Slovan Bratislava), Tomas Hubocan (Dynamo Moscow/RUS), Dusan Svento (Cologne/GER)

Midfielders: Viktor Pecovsky (MSK Zilina), Robert Mak (PAOK/GRE), Juraj Kucka (AC Milan/ITA), Patrik Hrosovsky (Viktoria Pilsen/CZE), Jan Gregus (Jablonec/CZE), Marek Hamsik (Napoli/ITA), Ondrej Duda (Legia Warsaw/POL), Miroslav Stoch (Bursaspor/TUR), Vladimir Weiss (Al Gharafa/QAT)

Forwards: Michal Duris (Viktoria Pilsen/CZE), Adam Nemec (Willem II/NED), Stanislav Sestak (Ferencvaros/HUN)