Slovakia has advanced⁤ in qualifying, but their recent ‍victory wasn’t a ​straightforward affair.Head Coach Juraj Pekár acknowledged a sluggish first-half performance against San Marino, describing it as a period where the team “slept a ‌little bit” and failed to execute ⁤their game plan.

Pekár noted that his team afforded San Marino too much ⁣time⁢ and space,‌ allowing them to remain a persistent threat. The opening goal,he revealed,came from‍ a set piece – a crucial moment that provided a much-needed lift.‌ “They were always⁤ in the game ⁢and dangerous,” Pekár ⁣said, highlighting the respect his team has for ‌every opponent.

The​ second⁣ half saw ​a marked enhancement‌ following tactical adjustments. Another goal from a⁤ set piece extended the lead, and while further opportunities arose, the team wasn’t able​ to capitalize on all of them. ‍Despite the imperfect performance, Pekár expressed satisfaction with the‍ clean sheet‍ and the early‍ qualification.

However,⁢ the ⁢coach cautioned against complacency. With a final match against switzerland looming, the top spot in​ the group remains⁢ up ‌for grabs. “It is not over yet, we have a match with Switzerland for first place,” ‍Pekár stated.

Pekár emphasized a pragmatic, game-by-game approach, a strategy the team ⁢adopted at‌ the start of the qualifying round. “We are still following the path we told ourselves before this qualifying round,namely that we will‌ go from match to match,step by step,” he explained,signaling a continued focus on ​incremental progress and planning.