2013 Gibraltar v Slovakia football match

Gibraltar first applied for UEFA membership in 1997 but was rejected because of intense opposition from Spain due to the disputed status of Gibraltar and that the territory's acceptance would inspire separatist Basque and Catalan national football teams to apply for membership as well. They reapplied unsuccessfully in 2007 with only three member nations supporting their bid after Spain threatened to withdraw Spanish teams from all UEFA competitions. They tried again in October 2012 and were granted full membership in March 2013.{{cite news|title=Gibraltar given full Uefa membership at London Congress|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22657481|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=1 December 2017|archive-date=18 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118023551/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22657481|url-status=live}}{{cite press release |url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/organisation/congress/news/newsid=1956133.html |title=Congress decisions bring Gibraltar on board |date=24 May 2013 |publisher=UEFA |accessdate=1 December 2017 |archive-date=19 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919151354/http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/organisation/congress/news/newsid=1956133.html |url-status=live }} The team's first announced match was against Estonia in Tallinn on 5 March 2014, but in October 2013 Slovakia, who had been UEFA members since 1993, were named as Gibraltar's first opponents.{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/17250/8997619/slovakia-to-be-gibraltars-first-opponents|title=Slovakia to be Gibraltar's first opponents|first=Graeme|last=Bailey|date=30 October 2013|publisher=Sky Sports|accessdate=1 December 2017|archive-date=9 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909010120/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/17250/8997619/slovakia-to-be-gibraltars-first-opponents|url-status=live}}

Slovakia began 2013 with a narrow 2–1 away defeat to Belgium. This was followed by two consecutive home draws, 1–1 in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Lithuania and 0–0 in a friendly against Sweden. On 7 June 2013 they faced Liechtenstein away in a World Cup qualifier, Martin Büchel gave the host a surprise lead but Ján Ďurica equalised 60 minutes later for Slovakia, despite the late goal the match was considered an upset, co-coaches Stanislav Griga and Michal Hipp were sacked after the match as they had failed to win their last six matches.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1963877.html|title=Griga and Hipp relieved of Slovakia duties|date=13 June 2013|publisher=UEFA|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=22 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522140737/http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1963877.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2013/06/15/slovakia-sack-coaches-after-poor-results/|title=Slovakia sack coaches after poor results|date=15 June 2013|newspaper=The Star|accessdate=12 December 2017|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213081843/https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2013/06/15/slovakia-sack-coaches-after-poor-results/|url-status=live}} The Slovak Football Association appointed former Slovakia midfielder Ján Kozák as the new head coach of the national team in July 2013.{{cite news|url=http://timesofoman.com/article/19912/Sports/Jan-Kozak-becomes-Slovakia-head-coach|title=Jan Kozak becomes Slovakia head coach|date=2 July 2013|newspaper=Times of Oman|accessdate=12 December 2017|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213082058/http://timesofoman.com/article/19912/Sports/Jan-Kozak-becomes-Slovakia-head-coach|url-status=live}} Kozák's first match was a friendly away to Romania which ended in a 1–1 draw.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/friendlies/season=2014/matches/round=2000374/match=2012685/index.html|title=Romania 1-1 Slovakia|publisher=UEFA|date=14 August 2013|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=21 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221211312/http://www.uefa.com/friendlies/season=2014/matches/round=2000374/match=2012685/index.html|url-status=dead}} After Kozák's appointment Slovakia had four remaining World Cup qualifiers: a win, a draw and two losses saw Slovakia finish UEFA Group G in third place and failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008708/postmatch/report/index.html|title=Latvia battle back to stifle Slovakia|date=15 October 2013|publisher=UEFA|first=Evgeny|last=Polyakov|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=24 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224090020/http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008708/postmatch/report/index.html|url-status=dead}} The final match before facing Gibraltar was a friendly against Poland away in Wrocław, first half goals from Juraj Kucka and Róbert Mak gave Slovakia a 2–0 win.

The Victoria Stadium was the only football stadium in Gibraltar at the time but it did not meet UEFA's standards for competitive internationals, so it was agreed they would use the Estádio Algarve in Faro/Loulé, Portugal for competitive matches until Gibraltar had an eligible stadium of their own.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/19/gibraltar-uefa-slovakia-spain-rock-full-international-football-fixture|title=Gibraltar keen to make impact as Uefa's newest nation against Slovakia|work=TheGuardian.com|first=James|last=Riach|date=19 November 2013|accessdate=10 December 2017|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213010447/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/19/gibraltar-uefa-slovakia-spain-rock-full-international-football-fixture|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/10454157/Gibraltar-v-Slovakia-I-had-to-get-permission-from-work-just-to-train-says-Jeremy-Lopez.html|title=Gibraltar v Slovakia: I had to get permission from work just to train, says Jeremy Lopez|first=Jeremy|last=Lopez|author-link=Jeremy Lopez|date=16 November 2013|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=10 December 2017|archive-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227032606/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/10454157/Gibraltar-v-Slovakia-I-had-to-get-permission-from-work-just-to-train-says-Jeremy-Lopez.html|url-status=live}} Even though the Victoria Stadium is eligible for friendly matches the Gibraltar Football Association decided to play the match against Slovakia at the Estádio Algarve to give them a chance to test the stadium for its future use.

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2013|11|19|df=y}}

|time = 18:30 UTC

|team1 = {{fb-rt|GIB}}

|score = 0–0

|report = [http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=668 Report]

|team2 = {{fb|SVK}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Estádio Algarve

|location = Faro/Loulé

|referee = Hugo Miguel (Portugal)

|attendance = 350

}}

|valign="top"|File:No image wide.svg

|valign="top" width="50%"|

|}

File:Danny Higginbotham vs. Estonia.jpg received the man of the match award for his role in the Gibraltar defence.]]

{{See also|Gibraltar national football team results#2014|Slovakia national football team results#2014|UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying}}

As Slovakia were heavy favourites for a comfortable win over Gibraltar the draw resulted in opposite feelings for both managers: Gibraltar's Allen Bula said the result was "a dream come true" while Slovakia's Ján Kozák described the result as "a huge disappointment" for him.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/my/news/dream-debut-draw-gibraltar-coach-bula |title='Dream' debut draw for Gibraltar coach Bula |date=20 November 2013 |magazine=FourFourTwo |accessdate=27 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213083609/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/my/news/dream-debut-draw-gibraltar-coach-bula |archive-date=13 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11159991 |title=Gibraltar draws 0-0 with Slovakia in UEFA debut |date=20 November 2013 |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=27 December 2016 |archive-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510081355/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11159991 |url-status=live }} Defender Danny Higginbotham, who qualifies for Gibraltar via his grandmother, was the recipient of the man of the match award and declared the result as "one of the best" in his career.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/international-friendlies/2013/gibraltar-hold-slovakia-to-memorable-draw-on-debut_sto4013597/story.shtml|title=Gibraltar hold Slovakia to memorable draw on debut|publisher=Eurosport|date=19 November 2013|accessdate=12 December 2013}}

The match was the last in 2013 for both teams; Gibraltar's next match was a friendly against the Faroe Islands at the Victoria Stadium in March 2014, the first official match played in Gibraltar since their acceptance into UEFA.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/under-fire-gibraltar-coach-stuck-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-9174899.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/under-fire-gibraltar-coach-stuck-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-9174899.html |archive-date=2022-05-01 |url-access=subscription |title=Under-fire Gibraltar coach stuck between a Rock and a hard place |date=6 March 2014 |first=Simon |last=Hart |newspaper=The Independent |accessdate=28 December 2016}}{{cbignore}} They took the lead with a goal from captain Roy Chipolina before going on to lose 4–1.{{cite web|url=https://footballgibraltar.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/gibraltar-1-4-faroe-islands/|title=Gibraltar 1-4 Faroe Islands|date=2 March 2014|publisher=Football Gibraltar|accessdate=12 December 2017|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213011435/https://footballgibraltar.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/gibraltar-1-4-faroe-islands/|url-status=live}} At the time, the result was the largest away win for the Faroes and it was also their joint largest win overall, equalling their 3–0 win over San Marino in 1995. Slovakia's next match was also a friendly, but they were away to Israel; goals from Martin Jakubko, Ján Ďurica and Róbert Mak ensured a 3–1 win for Slovakia.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/03/05/world/friendlies/israel/slovakia/1625792/|title=Israel vs. Slovakia 1 - 3|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=12 December 2017|archive-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411032902/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/03/05/world/friendlies/israel/slovakia/1625792/|url-status=live}}

In 2014 Gibraltar gained their second draw and first win, 1–1 against Estonia and 1–0 against Malta — they lost the other six matches. That same year they took part in their first major international competition entering the qualifying rounds for UEFA Euro 2016. Slovakia would go through 2014 winning eight of the nine fixtures they played, losing the other 0–1 to Russia; they began their sixth qualifying campaign for the UEFA European Championship the same year. Slovakia were able to qualify for the main tournament as runners-up of Group C while Gibraltar finished bottom of Group D without a point and failed to qualify.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33544084|title=Slovakia qualified for their first European Championship by beating Luxembourg, as Group C winners Spain defeated Ukraine in Kiev.|work=BBC Sport|date=12 October 2015|accessdate=11 December 2017|archive-date=5 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105054816/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33544084|url-status=live}}

{{Portal|Association football}}

• List of first association football internationals per country: 1962–present
• Gibraltar national football team results
• Slovakia national football team results

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131124170735/http://www.uefa.com/friendlies/season=2014/matches/round=2000374/match=2013351/index.html UEFA report]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20171213010341/https://www.gibraltarfa.com/domestic-football/match/21480 Gibraltar FA report]
• [http://www.futbalsfz.sk/gibraltar-slovensko-0-0 Slovak FA report]

{{Gibraltar national football team}}

{{Slovakia national football team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibraltar v Slovakia}}

Category:2013 in association football

Slovakia

Category:2013–14 in Slovak football

Slovakia

Category:Slovakia national football team matches

2013 Gibraltar v Slovakia

Category:November 2013 sports events in Europe