19.03.2014, 12:43
Head coach Poloz warns his team not to underestimate Finland

PREVIEW: Slovakia hope for four points in upcoming Women's EHF EURO 2014 Qualification double-header

Head coach Poloz warns his team not to underestimate Finland

Their two upcoming Women's EHF EURO 2014 Qualification matches against Finland on 26 and 29 March will give Slovakia a better idea about their chances to qualify for the final tournament in Hungary and Croatia in December.

Head coach Dusan Poloz remains careful, but nevertheless believes in his team and its ability to cope with the responsibility, pressure and the expectation to take the maximum four points from this double-header.

"There is no easy match in Europe nowadays for us, especially away ties are extremelly difficult," says Poloz.

"We are fully focused on the first game in Vantaa. We gave our players video materials with Finland's first two matches.

"The results they achieved against Iceland (18:34) and France (13:27) were not so good, but they will have several players, who play in Sweden, back after injuries. However I believe in strengths of my team."

Slovakia won their match against Iceland 19:18, but lost to France 18:25 and are currently ranked third with two points in Group 2.

Determination, the will to succeed and self-esteem: These are the attributes that should guarantee Slovakia two successful matches, says Poloz.

"I'm watching closely their top players in Sweden and I'm getting a clear picture of the team and what could work against them.

"But biggest name of Finnish handball for me still remains Katja Nyberg, the Larvik HK player, who represents Norway nowadays," the head coach says.

Spreading handball across Slovakia

Slovakia outplayed Finland by 20 goals (38:18) two years ago in Partizanske as part of the qualification for the World Championship, but Poloz warns:

"I'm very cautious. I remember Slovakia losing to Great Britain in the lead-up to the (2012) Summer Olympics. There is no easy team and no room for underestimation!"

The reverse fixture on 29 March will be played in the Eastern Slovakian town of Michalovce. The local club currently top the domestic league, WHIL, and the town is well-known for its enthusiastic fans.

"Michalovce is a true handball town. We have played past matches in Saľa and Partizanske and our aim is to spread the handball into different towns around the country," says Poloz

"We have five players from Iuventa (Michalovce) in the squad, so I hope fans will create fantastic atmophere.

"The team met for four days for training camp in February in Partizanske. It helped us a lot to see each other, train together, get back into the habits.

"I'm very thankful to the clubs, although we did not have all the players, the core was present."

The best scorer of the national team, Katarina Dubajova (Nowy Sacz), is back in the squad, following some uncertainty about her future international career after Slovakia lost to Romania in the play-offs for the World Championship 2013.

"Katarina is the most experienced player in the team. She is a leader, great scorer and as we have seen in February, she is in good shape. I believe she has still lot to offer for the national team," says Poloz.

On the other hand the Slovakian head coach has to cope with the absence of winger Dagmar Stuparicova, Lydia Jakubisova, who is recovering from a knee injury, and Eva Veselkova who is sidelined with a knee injury as well.

The Slovakian squad

Goalkeepers: Zaneta Tothova (Stella Saint-Maur), Lucia Gubikova (Iuventa Michalovce), Simona Sulovska (HK Slavia Partizanske) 

Line players: Andrea Czanik (DJK/MJC Trier), Dominika Hornakova, Michaela Kovalickova (both Iuventa Michalovce) 

Wingers: Terézia Szöllösiová (Iuventa Michalovce), Lucia Sukennikova, Reka Bizikova (both HK Slovan Duslo Saľa), Selma Blazekova (HK Slavia Partizanske) 

Back court players: Katarína Dubajova (MKS Olimpia-Beskid Nowy Sacz), Martina Skolkova (Cercle Dijon Bourgogne), Petra Benuskova (DHK Banik Most), Martina Bacikova (HC Veseli nad Moravou), Marianna Rebicova (Iuventa Michalovce), Simona Szarkova (HK Slovan Duslo Saľa), Klaudia Michnova, Andrea Kerteszova (both HK Slavia Partizanske)

TEXT: Tomas Cuncik / ts