Slovakia Euro 2016 team profile: Debutants look to shake underdog tag amid Robert Vittek absence

World ranking: 24

Best European Championship finish: Slovakia have never previously qualified for the European Championships as an independent nation. Czechoslovakia won the tournament in 1976 and finished third in both 1960 and 1980, before the country eventually split in 1993.

How they qualified: Jan Kozak's side avoided the dreaded play-off route by finishing second behind Spain and three points ahead of Ukraine in Group C.

Fixtures: Group B – Wales (11 June), Russia (15 June), England (20 June).

Squad -

Goalkeepers: Matus Kozacik, Jan Mucha, Jan Novota

Defenders: Peter Pekarik, Milan Skriniar, Martin Skrtel, Norbert Gyomber, Jan Durica, Kornel Salata, Tomas Hubocan, Dusan Svento

Midfielders: Viktor Pecovsky, Robert Mak, Juraj Kucka, Patrik Hrosovsky, Jan Gregus, Stanislav Sestak, Marek Hamsik, Ondrej Duda, Miroslav Stoch, Vladimir Weiss

Strikers: Michal Duris, Adam Nemec

Expectations: Slovakia are something of an unknown quantity with regards to this competition, but provided a glimpse of their tournament mettle in October 2014 when goals from Juraj Kucka and former Chelsea winger Miroslav Stoch ended reigning champions Spain's 36-match unbeaten qualifying run. They also made their first World Cup appearance six years ago and reached the last 16 by eliminating holders Italy with a thoroughly exciting 3-2 victory in Johannesburg.

With England experiencing plenty of defensive frailties, a fairly average Russia missing a key threat in Alan Dzagoev and fellow first-time qualifiers Wales also lacking major tournament experience, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Slovakia can reach the knock-out stages. They will however have to cope without the presence of all-time leading scorer Robert Vittek, with the 34-year-old Slovan Bratislava striker – who has notched 23 times in his 81 senior caps to date – left at home due to injury problems. Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel captains a team including Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik and ex-Manchester City, Rangers and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Vladimir Weiss.

Manager: Jan Kozak - The 62-year-old former MFK Kosice boss has been in the role since July 2013, when he was appointed by the Slovak Football Association (SFZ) after the sackings of joint coaches Stanislav Griga and Michal Hipp that followed a run of six matches without a victory.

The former Czechoslovakia international was unable to rescue a faltering World Cup qualification campaign, although Kozak's side began the road to France with six consecutive victories. They won only one of their last four matches thereafter, but secured a place at Euro 2016 courtesy of a 4-2 defeat of minnows Luxembourg. Speaking of his side's tournament hopes, the manager said he "expects and hopes that we will be a tough team for any team we play".

IBTimes UK Prediction: Group stages - With the four best third-place teams set to advance, Slovakia may be confident of reaching the last 16. A recent 3-1 friendly victory over world champions Germany proves they should not be underestimated, although a lack of quality will ultimately curtail their ambitions.