Labant selected by Slovakia
Tuesday, April 9, 2002
Article summary
Slovakia coach Ladislav Jurkemik has named Vladimír Labant in his 18-man squad to face Belgium.
Article body
Slovakia coach Ladislav Jurkemik has named Vladimír Labant in his 18-man squad for next week's friendly international against Belgium despite the West Ham United FC player's injury troubles.
Greško selected
Labant, who moved to England from AC Sparta Praha at the turn of the year, suffered bruising to the muscles in his back in the FA Premiership match against Fulham FC on 1 April and missed last Saturday's 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic FC. As well as Labant, other key players in the squad include Internazionale FC midfield player Vratislav Greško and Sparta's Rastislav Michalík.
World Cup preparations
While Belgium will use the 17 April match in Brussels as a warm-up for the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, Slovakia are preparing for their EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign in the autumn. Jurkemik's side have been drawn alongside England, Turkey, F.Y.R. Macedonia and Liechenstein in Group 7.
Slovakia squad
Contofalsky, Bucek, Petráš, Spilar, Kratochvíl, Labant, Kozák, Hlinka, Michalík, Greško, Dzúrik, Czinege, Mintál, Janocko, Bencík, Reiter, Vittek, Fabus.