Putting the boot in: Slovakia's Erik Jendrisek gets in front of Chilean Gonzalo Jara during a friendly international

The Coach: Vladimír Weiss (Slovakian, 45). Appointed: 2008. WC experience: Player: 1990 (Czech Republic). Manager: None.

Weiss played for Czechoslovakia and then, following the separation in 1993, the new Slovakia. His son of the same name is at Manchester City.

The Country: Slovakia qualified for their first World Cup finals after beating Poland 1-0 to finish top of Group 3 thanks to an own goal by Seweryn Gancarczyk and some key saves from Jan Mucha.

Slovakia played in their first major championship in the Euro 96 qualifiers, but failed to make the finals in England.

The vital cog in the Slovakia machine remains Marek Hamsik, who has been described as similar in style to Chelsea’s Frank Lampard. Napoli’s attacking midfielder is only 22 and Weiss senior said: “I think he’s crucial to our chances in South Africa. Although he’s still a youngster he’s been in the national team for a long while and knows what it’s all about.

“I expect him to rise to the occasion. For the past couple of years at Napoli he has played in front of massive crowds and usually does himself justice. He has an attitude I like; he’s very single minded.”

A good World Cup could see him move on and several Premier League clubs are monitoring his progress. An incident earlier this year may sway Hamsik; he was a victim of a carjacking in Naples and upset the police when he claimed, in an interview, that they turned a blind eye to his speeding.

Telegraph verdict: Slovakia qualified from a highly-competitive group. However, with apparently limited resources, they may struggle to progress in South Africa and will do well to get out of the group stages. Were easily despatched by England in friendly last March.