Jurkemik opts for experience

The Slovakia coach Ladislav Jurkemik has named his strongest squad for the four-nation Cyprus International Tournament.

Forthcoming qualifier
Jurkemik obviously had the 29 March UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying match in F.Y.R Macedonia in mind when he included 15 players who ply their trade outside Slovakia in a 21-man party to take on Romania on 13 February. The Slovakians will then meet either the hosts Cyprus or Russia the following day.
 
Youthful approach
Although the Romanians have taken the youthful approach, coach Anghel Iordanescu naming an inexperienced squad for the Cypriot sojourn, Jurkemik was keen to assess the form of his leading players, particularly as Slovakia have lost their two qualifying matches to date, to Group 7 favourites Turkey and England.

Four missing
The AC Sparta Praha defender Vladimír Labant is missing through injury, while Vratislav Greško is excluded as he attempts to complete a transfer to English side Blackburn Rovers FC from Parma AC. SK Sigma Olomouc striker Lubomír Reiter is also on the move, probably to Russian side FC Rostselmash Rostov-Na-Donu, leaving Marek Spilár from Club Brugge KV as the final absentee.

Slovakia squad
König, Bucek, Dzúrik, Klimpl, Hanek, Hlinka, Cišovský, Leitner, Kratochvíl, Debnár, Karhan, Petráš, Michalík, Pinte, Mintál, Janocko, Kisel, Vittek, Bencík, Kozlej, Németh.