Similarities between these two sides are numerous. Both are competing in a European Championship finals for the first time and both rely heavily on a mercurial world-class talent. Real Madrid's Gareth Bales was Wales' top scorer in qualification, as was Napoli's Marek Hamsik for Slovakia.
In their only previous meetings, during Euro 2008 qualifying, Slovakia humiliated Wales 5-1 in Cardiff, before the Welsh got their revenge with a 5-2 victory away in Trnava.
In the defeat at the Millennium Stadium, Bale marked his third cap with a goal which made him Wales' youngest scorer, aged 17 years, two months and 22 days (a record that still stands).
In the second match, Hamsik won his fifth Slovakia cap. Both players have since gone on to become icons for their national sides and are firmly established amongst Europe's elite.
TEAM NEWS
Wales midfielder Joe Ledley has made a rapid recovery from a broken leg suffered on 7 May and could feature at some point against Slovakia.
Midfielder Joe Allen is fit after a minor knee problem, while striker Hal Robson-Kanu is also back after an Achilles tendon injury.
Slovakia's all-time top scorer Robert Vittek was not included in the squad because of injury.
Coach Jan Kozak must decide between Adam Nemec or Michal Duris up front.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The two previous encounters between Wales and Slovakia produced 13 goals.
Wales
- Wales are taking part in the finals of a European Championship for the first time.
- Only four Wales players scored in qualifying - the lowest total of any Euro 2016 finalist.
- Bale scored or assisted 82% of Wales' goals (nine of 11).
- Bale had 52 shots in the qualifying campaign, more than any other player from any team.
- Aaron Ramsey created 23 chances during Euro 2016 qualifying, more than any other Wales player.
- Wales conceded just four goals during qualifying. Only Romania, Spain and England let in fewer.
Slovakia
- Slovakia are taking part in the European Championship for the first time. Both they and the Czech Republic are recognised by Uefa as successors to Czechoslovakia, for whom eight Slovaks started the 1976 final victory against West Germany.
- This is Slovakia's second major tournament after the 2010 World Cup, where they were knocked out in the last 16 by the Netherlands.
- Slovakia's 17 goals in the qualifying campaign were scored either from open play (14) or indirect free-kicks (3).
- Vladimir Weiss made six assists in the qualifying campaign, the joint-highest total alongside Poland's Arkadiusz Milik and Israel's Eran Zahavi.
- Marek Hamsik was Slovakia's top scorer in qualifying with five goals.
- This is Jan Kozak's first major tournament as coach. He played all four games for Czechoslovakia at the European Championship in 1980, when they finished third.
Possible line-ups
Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, Taylor, Chester, Williams; Davies, King, Allen; Ramsey, Bale; Robson-Kanu.
Slovakia: Kozáčik; Pekarík, Škrtel, Ďurica, Hubočan (Švento); Hrošovský, Kucka; Mak, Hamšík, Weiss; Ďuriš.
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