<
>

Germany game will be highlight of career for Slovakia midfielder Mak

Slovakia midfielder Robert Mak is looking forward to the "highlight of his career" when he lines up against Germany in the Euro 2016 round of 16 on Sunday.

Jan Kozak's side reached the second round of Euro 2016 after finishing third in Group B behind Wales and England. And their reward for progressing to the knockout stages is a game against Germany.

Mak, 25, spent four years in German football with Nuremberg, and the midfielder says he is delighted to be getting the chance to face the World Champions.

"To play Germany will be the highlight of my career, and also our tournament highlight," Mak told German wire SID. "With a bit of luck everything is possible. It would be a dream for us to beat and eliminate them."

And Hertha Berlin defender Peter Pekarik, 29, added that Slovakia had "respect, but no fear," for the team they will face in Lille on Sunday.

Slovakia won 3-1 when these teams met less than a month ago in a tournament warm-up game.

But, speaking at a news conference in Evian, Germany assistant coach Thomas Schneider said that the friendly result would not be a benchmark for the second-round clash.

"That was preparation," Schneider said. "We have now reached the knockout stages."