2 Jun 2010

Slovakia coach gambles on fitness of 4 players

6:00 am on 2 June 2010

The Slovakia football coach Vladimir Weiss has gambled on the fitness of four players, including Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, in his 23-man World Cup squad.

Skrtel, who has been out with a broken metatarsal since February, came through Monday's 1-all draw against Cameroon.

Captain Martin Hamsik also played but Filip Holosko and Robert Vittek, who are in the squad, sat out the friendly.

Slovakia's most experienced player, Mainz midfielder Miroslav Karhan, 33, is out with an Achilles injury.

Slovakia open their World Cup against New Zealand on June 15th.