BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) - Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona included 18-year-old Feyenoord forward Leo Sauer in his squad for the European Championship on Friday, along with 37-year-old right back Peter Pekarik.
Sauer has just played in just one international so far but impressed on the wing for Feyenoord this season.
Slovakia is entering its first major tournament since star playmaker Marek Hamsik retired last year and Calzona said his team will have to rely on the collective rather than individuals.
"We know well what our limits are," said the Italian, who also coached Napoli alongside the Slovak national team from February until the end of the season.
He included Napoli's hardworking midfielder Stanislav Lobotka in the team, who could play alongside another 37-year-old veteran, Juraj Kucka.
Newcastle's Martin Dubravka is expected to be the No. 1 goalkeeper, while the defense is anchored by captain Milan Skriniar of Paris Saint-Germain.
Slovakia opens the Euros on June 17 against Belgium before playing Ukraine and Romania in Group E
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Slovakia:
Goalkeepers: Martin Dubravka (Newcastle), Marek Rodak (Fulham), Henrich Ravas (New England Revolution).
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Defenders: Peter Pekarik (Hertha Berlin), Norbert Gyomber (Salernitana), Denis Vavro (FC Copenhagen), Milan Skriniar (Paris Saint-Germain), Adam Obert (Cagliari), David Hancko (Feyenoord), Vernon De Marco (Hatta Club), Sebastian Kosa (Spartak Trnava).
Midfielders: Matus Bero (Bochum), Juraj Kucka (Slovan Bratislava), Tomas Rigo (Banik Ostrava), Patrik Hrosovsky (Genk), Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli), Ondrej Duda (Hellas Verona), Laszlo Benes (Hamburg).
Strikers: David Duris (Ascoli), Tomas Suslov (Hellas Verona), Ivan Schranz (Slavia Prague), Robert Bozenik (Boavista), David Strelec (Slovan Bratislava), Lubomir Tupta (Slovan Liberec), Leo Sauer (Feyenoord), Lukas Haraslin (Sparta Prague).
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