Stefan Tarkovic praised his Slovakia facet for his or her efforts in “neutralising” Robert Lewandowski throughout a shock 2-1 Euro 2020 win over Poland.
Slovakia claimed solely their second European Championship victory as an impartial nation because of Milan Skriniar’s 69th-minute winner in St Petersburg on Monday.
An personal aim from Wojciech Szczesny, which adopted nice work from Robert Mak, gave Slovakia a first-half lead that was cancelled out 32 seconds into the second half by Karol Linetty.
However Grzegorz Krychowiak’s crimson card turned the sport again in Slovakia’s favour and Skriniar’s third aim in his final 4 video games for Slovakia secured the three factors.
Key to Slovakia’s success was Lewandowski’s lack of affect. He had the fewest touches of any Poland outfield participant within the first half (22) and completed with 39. None of his 5 pictures hit the goal, that means he has nonetheless not scored in a serious event since Euro 2016.
Requested about how they shut down a striker who broke Gerd Muller’s Bundesliga report with 41 objectives within the 2020-21 season, Tarkovic informed a media convention: “I feel the entire workforce performed very nicely, we ready for Poland’s assault very responsibly and naturally Lewandowski performs a decisive position within the remaining third.
“Skriniar didn’t personally mark Lewandowski, however the duels with him and different gamers similar to Peter Pekarik and Lubomir Satka, I’m actually pleased they managed to neutralise such a fantastic participant as Lewandowski.
“After this win, there will probably be much more strain to make it from the group. For me it wasn’t actually in regards to the outcome, it was about displaying what we’re able to. We are going to take pleasure in this win however tomorrow we’re beginning to put together for Sweden.
“This implies lots for me, I feel it means lots for all of the people who have ready along with us, the teaching employees, everybody across the workforce.
“We spent three weeks collectively and we had time to give attention to the issues we needed to focus on. There are nonetheless two troublesome video games for us however what’s actually good is that the co-operation is working and the gamers wish to present the nation of Slovakia and the followers that they wish to combat for Slovakia.”