Keeping Them Out: Goalkeepers

June 1st, 2010 | by: Paul | Comments Off

Today, the 23-man squad for Slovakia was announced. Within the squad are three goalkeepers- an oft-overlooked position, but one that is vital to any team’s success. Slovakia may have an underrated group of ‘keepers.

First, is Dušan Perniš. Fairly young at 25, he has eight years of first-team club experience. Having spent part of his youth career with Manchester United, he may have a bit of a leg-up on many of Slovakia’s players. He only has two senior caps for Slovakia, but is the current #1 at Dundee United- the 2009-10 Scottish Cup winners.

Second in Slovakia’s goalkeeping lineup is Dušan Kuciak. Also 25 years old, he has definitely been part of more successful teams than Perniš has. Kuciak has been a member of the dominant Žilina side that won Slovakia’s Corgoň Liga in 2003, 2004, and 2007; finished runner-up in 2005 and 2008. Since 2008, he has been plying his trade with Romanian side Vaslui, the winners of the 2008 Intertoto Cup and 2010 Cupa României finalists. He has only three senior caps for Slovakia (largely because of the next man on this list), but his winning experience may prove helpful.

Last, and certainly not least (#1, actually) is Ján Mucha. The most experienced goalkeeper in the international arena with only 14 senior caps, Mucha (like Kuciak) has been a winner. He was also a member of Žilina who won the Slovak league in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, he moved on to Polish side Legia Warszawa- the winners of the 2005-06 Ekstraklasa and the 07-08 Polish Cup. He has been Slovakia’s goalkeeper since 2008 and has impressed enough with Repre and his club team to earn himself a transfer to English Premier League side Everton. He’ll have competition from USA ‘keeper Tim Howard, but merely being picked by a Premier League side has to say something about this guy- Slovakia’s undisputed #1, and definitely a key man for the squad.