Vladimir Weiss hopes to enjoy a healthy dose of deja vu in Thursday’s Euro 2020 playoff final with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.
The former Rangers winger, now with Slovan Bratislava, was a youngster when he helped Slovakia secure a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win in Belfast in 2009.
Weiss teed up the opener for Stanislav Sestak before Filip Holosko added a second to end Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching the 2010 finals in South Africa.
Victory also went a long way to sealing Slovakia’s place at the tournament and Weiss is hoping to enjoy another knockout result at the same venue this week.
“That match is a beautiful memory because we knew we were only a step away from the World Cup in South Africa,” he said.
“Now we are travelling to Belfast again in the knowledge that if we succeed, we will go to next summer’s Euro finals.
“I have fantastic memories of that win and I firmly believe we can experience the same joy after Thursday’s playoff.”
The only survivors in the Northern Ireland team from that 2009 clash are skipper Steven Davis, Jonny Evans and Niall McGinn who rattled the bar.
Weiss came up against Evans, who was playing left back, and actually nutmegged the former Manchester United defender before crossing for Sestak to open the scoring.
“Jonny Evans is a great player,” said Weiss. “We were still young back then and today we are both more experienced.
“We know we have a difficult match ahead of us in Belfast, but we also know what we want and we will be doing everything we can to be successful.”
Weiss, who is nursing a hamstring strain, was recently recalled to the national squad by Stefan Tarkovic after spending two years in the international wilderness.
Tarkovic was appointed following the sacking of Pavel Hapal in the wake of Slovakia’s shootout defeat of the Republic of Ireland in last month’s playoff semis.
“I’m glad I'm here,” said the 30-year-old who won the Scottish title with Rangers in 2011. “We met, clarified things and I'm glad the coach decided to send me an invitation. I will try to do everything to help the team.
“I felt my hamstring in training last Wednesday, but I will do what is necessary to be ready. I'm optimistic and I believe I will be fine by Thursday.”
