Events off the field may have dominated Russia's opener against England but their last-gasp point on it will silence a few critics who have questioned their ageing defence.
Four of Russia's defensive backline that started against England, including goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, all play for CSKA Moscow - who are also coached by national coach Leonid Slutsky. Somewhat reminiscent of Italy's impressive defence, who all play together for Juventus at club level, this familiarly between the quartet is a key strength, in the short term at least.
Slovakia are not in the last chance saloon after defeat to Wales, on their European Championship finals debut as an independent nation, but a second successive loss would leave them facing an uphill struggle to qualify - should England beat the Welsh on Thursday.
TEAM NEWS
Russia midfielder Denis Glushakov may start if deemed to be fully-fit following a calf strain. He played the final 10 minutes against England.
Back-up goalkeeper Yuri Lodygin missed training on Tuesday with an unspecified knock.
Slovakia coach Jan Kozak will make changes following their lacklustre display against Wales.
Ondrej Duda looks set to start after scoring against the Welsh shortly after coming on a substitute.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- This will be the ninth time these two countries have met. Russia have claimed three wins to Slovakia's two.
- Slovakia have scored only one goal in their last four games against Russia.
- Indeed only three goals in total have been scored in the last four meetings between the sides.
Russia
- The then-Soviet Union won the first European Championship in 1960, and finished as runners-up in 1964, 1972 and 1988.
- Russia's best performance as an independent nation came in 2008, when they reached the semi-finals.
- Russia have kept just two clean sheets in their last 16 games at the Euro finals, including matches under their former Soviet Union and CIS entities.
- They have won only once in their last six matches (D2, L3), a 3-0 triumph over Lithuania.
- Three of Russia's last four goals at the Euros have come in the final 11 minutes of games.
Slovakia
- Slovakia lost their Euro 2016 opener to Wales but they have not been beaten in back-to-back matches since October 2013.
- Ondrej Duda scored after just 52 just seconds after coming off the bench in Slovakia's opener v Wales.
- Jan Durica and Tomas Hubocan both play their club football in Russia, Martin Skrtel, Jan Mucha and Kornel Salata have also previously done so.
- Marek Hamsik had a match-high 70 touches against the Welsh.
Possible line-ups
Russia: Akinfeev; Smolnikov, Ignashevich, V Berezutski, Schennikov; Neustädter, Glushakov; Shatov, Shirokov, Kokorin; Dzyuba.
Slovakia: Kozáčik; Pekarík, Škrtel, Durica, Hubočan; Hrošovsky; Mak, Kucka, Hamšík, Weiss; Nemec/Duda.
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