Greece vs Slovakia

Greece and Slovakia Look Ahead After Mixed Fortunes in March

While their World Cup qualifying campaigns won’t kick off until September, both Greece and Slovakia have plenty to reflect on after contrasting outcomes in their recent UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation playoffs.

Greece’s Rise to League A
March was a month to remember for Greece’s young squad, as they secured promotion to Nations League A for the first time in dramatic fashion. After suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Scotland, they turned the tie around with a stunning 3-0 victory at Hampden Park—a performance full of confidence and composure.

This triumph added to Greece’s growing reputation as giant-killers on British soil. Just six months earlier, they stunned England at Wembley during the League B group stage. Under Ivan Jovanović, they were unlucky not to earn automatic promotion, collecting 15 points from a possible 18—only to miss out on top spot to England on goal difference.

Now, with a place in League A secured for the 2026-27 season, Greece have a golden opportunity to push for Euro 2028 qualification, backed by a guaranteed playoff safety net. But first, they’ll be laser-focused on ending their World Cup drought, starting with September’s qualifiers.

Their painful defeat to Georgia in the Euro 2024 playoffs extended their major tournament absence to six campaigns—a streak they’ll be desperate to break. Drawn in a competitive group alongside Scotland and Denmark, the race for qualification is wide open, offering Greece a real chance to return to the biggest stage.

Before that, they’ll test themselves in a friendly against Slovakia—another side preparing for a crucial World Cup qualifying campaign.

Slovakia’s Near Misses and Renewed Hope
Slovakia, meanwhile, enter this international window with mixed emotions. Their agonizing extra-time defeat to Slovenia in March’s Nations League playoffs means they’ll remain in League C for another cycle—a bitter pill to swallow after a strong campaign.

Francesco Calzona’s side had impressed in a tough group, finishing just behind Sweden with 13 points from 18. But despite their solid performances, luck hasn’t been on their side.

The memory of their heartbreaking Euro 2024 exit—where they came within minutes of knocking out England—will fuel their hunger to reach the 2026 World Cup. If they can recapture that fighting spirit, they’ll back themselves to challenge in a qualifying group featuring Germany, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg.

Realistically, a playoff spot looks like Slovakia’s most likely route to the finals, but after edging out Luxembourg in Euro 2024 qualifying, they’ll believe they can secure second place. For a nation that hasn’t graced the World Cup since 2010, the motivation couldn’t be higher.