Suslov’s Hopes Dim as Slovenia’s U21 Team Misfires on Home Turf at Euros

No competition anticipates the departure of their hosts so early, yet that was the unfortunate reality for Slovakia on Saturday night, as they fell to Italy 1-0 in their second group encounter at the Under-21 European Championships.

The sole goal of the match was netted by Cesare Casadei, who in the seventh minute managed a delightful finish over the goalkeeper following a muddled build-up.

With 83 minutes remaining, Slovakia still had ample time to net an equaliser to keep their tournament hopes alive, but the goal never materialised. Both Slovakia and Romania ended up eliminated from Group A, leaving traditional powerhouses Spain and Italy to progress.

Above the section housing Slovakia’s most vocal supporters, a banner proclaimed ‘Na Tatrou sa blyska, hromy divo biji’.

This translates to: Lightning flashes over the Tatras, thunder drums ominously.

Drums were certainly in abundance beneath the banner, energising the fervent crowd, yet flashes of brilliance were scarce under the overcast sky in Trnava, especially in a match where a positive outcome was crucial.

It seemed appropriate then that Slovakia’s Italian representative, Tomas Suslov, emerged as their standout performer throughout the match.

Having spent the past two years in Italy honing his skills at Verona in Serie A, the season has been one he would prefer to forget, with just one assist and no goals in the league—a contrast to the raw talent he displayed on Saturday night.

Positioned on the right wing for much of the clash, the 23-year-old found pockets of space in the first half, dribbling past two defenders before being fouled. In a game where Slovakia struggled to find their rhythm and create opportunities, Suslov managed to spark some excitement, evidenced by the Italian defence fouling him multiple times.

Italy’s defence, solid throughout, showed some vulnerability at times. Errant passes caused a bit of concern at the back; however, Slovakia, as was often the case in Trnava, could not capitalise on those opportunities.

Ultimately, Italy was content to consolidate their position as the match wore on. Suslov showcased another brilliant dribble, yet his final cross lacked precision. Nevertheless, the Italians, with two wins in two matches, appeared rarely threatened as they held firm for a clean sheet.

Now eliminated, Slovakia may feel somewhat aggrieved at exiting their own tournament so early. In their match against Spain, they held their own until the dying moments and even outperformed Italy on expected goals, highlighting the potential that, unfortunately, was not realised. The absence of that cutting edge was especially evident against the Azzurri, marking their downfall.

After the final whistle, Suslov and the team received a warm ovation. The banner will be unfurled once more, and Slovakia’s spirit will endure.