Euro 2016 became all the more real after last weekend’s draw for the group stages in Paris.

The home nations who qualified for the tournament learned their fate, with England play Wales in Lens on June 16. The other two teams in the group however will be hoping to throw a cat amongst the pigeons and make it through to the last 16.

Here we take a look at the Slovakia’s main men who will be a danger to the home nations come the summer.

Marek Hamsik

There is no doubting that Hamsik is Slovakia’s star man. The midfielder is one of those players whose chances to play at a major tournament have always been limited due to his nationality but is without doubt top class.

He found his way from Slovan Bratislava to Serie A at the age of just 17 and his reputation has been growing in Italy ever since.

He now vice captain for the national side but skippers the Napoli outfit that have become such a formidable force both domestically and in Europe of late.

The 28 year old provides an almost endless supply of box to box energy at the heart of the Slovakia team and loves to arrive late into the penalty area; a habit which saw him bag 5 goals in qualifying.

Consistency is another of his key attributes as approaches 80 goals in 300 Napoli appearances. Hamsik has regularly been linked with a move to the Premier League and he would have all the qualities to adjust should he ever choose to move.

Technically outstanding, a strong runner and two footed, his opponents in France will need to be on their guard.

Robert Mak

Mak was a youngster with Slovan Bratislava in his own country before joining the academy at Manchester City.

The young winger however failed to make the grade and was released in 2010. He made his professional debut in Germany for FC Nuremburg and now plays for PAOK in Greece where he is quickly becoming a star man.

Mak is a pacy wide man with an eye for goal which he demonstrated with a brace against Iceland last month. His speed and clinical nature were crucial to Slovakia during the qualifying and are likely to be key again come June, when his side will most likely set up to play on the counter attack.

While the flank is his natural territory Mak is also an intelligent player capable of operating behind the front man. He will be keen to show what he can do after his Premier League career failed to materialise.

Robert Vittek

Vittek’s place in the Slovakia side is slightly less assured than it used to be but the forward is sure to feature in France due to his experience.

The attacker has become somewhat of a journeyman in European football having played in  France, Germany and Turkey as well as his own country.

Currently back at Slovan Bratislava, he is vastly experienced as an international and is the man who scored Slovakia’s first-ever World Cup goal back in South Africa 2010.

He went on to score four in total at that World Cup and is sure to have set his sights on a similar impact at this summer’s tournament.

Now 33, Vittek is nearing the end of his career and would love to go out with a bang from the International game. He is his country’s all time top scorer and remains a physically imposing forward.

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