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Page last updated at 17:06 GMT, Sunday, 20 June 2010 18:06 UK

World Cup 2010: Slovakia coach Weiss remains upbeat

World Cup 2010 highlights: Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay

Highlights - Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay

Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss refused to be downbeat despite a 2-0 defeat to Paraguay which leaves his side facing an early exit from the World Cup.

"It is a good learning experience for my team and we are happy to be at the World Cup," said Weiss.

Well taken goals from Enrique Vera and Carlos Riveros leave Slovakia needing to beat world champions Italy to have any chance of advancing from Group F.

"We made two mistakes and were punished for them," added Weiss.

Vera gave Paraguay the lead with a curling shot in the 27th minute and Riveros made the points secure with a sweetly-struck drive in the 86th.

Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel admitted his team had been outclassed by their more technically-skilled South American opponents.

We will give everything against Italy in our last game; we will fight to the very end

Coach Vladimir Weiss

"It was very difficult because [Roque] Santa Cruz and [Lucas] Barrios and [Nelson] Valdez are very strong players, good in the air and good with the ball," Liverpool's Skrtel reflected.

"They played better than us today and they won - they were the better team."

Slovakia's Manchester City midfielder Vladimir Weiss, the coach's son, said the team's biggest regret should not be the Paraguay defeat, but the 93rd minute equaliser they conceded to New Zealand in their opening game.

"That 20 seconds can cost our tournament," the 20-year-old said. "Even if we lost today we would have had three points and in our minds it would be better in the last game against Italy."

Slovakia may take heart from Italy's displays in the tournament to date - the holders followed up their draw with a Paraguay with a 1-1 draw against New Zealand on Sunday.

"We will give everything in our last match against Italy," stated coach Weiss. "We will fight to the very end."



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see also
Slovakia downbeat after Kiwi draw
15 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
Kiwis proud of 'best ever result'
15 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
Team tracker and Predictor
27 May 10 |  World Cup 2010
World Cup venues
05 Dec 09 |  World Cup 2010
Tuesday's World Cup 2010 round-up
15 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
World Cup day five photos
15 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010


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