The value of one Welsh player is equal to the whole Slovak team

He transferred to the famous Real Madrid for a record 100 million euros and is among the top stars of the European Football Championship. That’s Gareth Bale, the leader of the Welsh national team, which will be Slovakia’s first opponent at the tournament this Saturday. The paradox is that the value of the 26-year-old Cardiff native is almost equal to that of all 23 players in the Slovak national team combined. Specifically, according to the portal transfermarkt.de, Bale is worth 80 million euros, while the entire Slovak squad has a combined value of 84.4 million. “One player doesn’t make a team, and such valuations don’t reflect a player’s true quality or current form,” said sports analyst and football agent Jozef Tokos in an interview with the Economic Daily. Interestingly, the most expensive player who will appear on French pitches during the tournament is Cristiano Ronaldo, valued at 110 million euros.

Slovakia are underdogs. Even Wales has a more expensive team
Slovak footballers are considered among the underdogs of the European Championship. That’s the conclusion of analyses in most British media, which see England as clear favorites and give more chances to Russia and Wales than to Slovakia. Bookmakers’ odds also place Slovakia at the bottom of its group, and this is further confirmed by comparisons of squad values. According to transfermarkt, the value of Slovakia’s 23-man roster is 84.4 million euros—about 50 million less than Russia’s. The gap is even bigger when compared to the two teams from the British Isles: England’s squad is worth 477 million, Wales’s 170 million. (...)

Slovakia is worth as much as Bale
It’s striking to compare Slovakia with its first opponent, Wales. One of the biggest stars of EURO 2016, Gareth Bale, is worth nearly as much as the entire Slovak team. The Real Madrid player is valued at 80 million euros—less than five million below the combined value of coach Ján Kozák’s squad. “But one player doesn’t make a team. Even if he is among the top players at the tournament. The value of squads doesn’t necessarily reflect their true quality. In this regard, the FIFA World Ranking is a more objective measure,” said sports analyst and football agent Jozef Tokos.

Looking at that ranking offers a more optimistic view of Slovakia’s chances in France. In the latest edition, Slovakia ranks 16th among European teams—higher than both Wales and Russia. “This comparison is a better indicator of a team’s form and quality than squad value. It’s more relevant and reflects reality better than subjective player valuations,” Tokos said. That Slovakia might not be the underdog it’s perceived to be by foreign media and bookmakers is also supported by its results this year. Coach Kozák’s team is one of only five that remain unbeaten in 2016. Slovakia is in the company of football powers like France, Croatia, Ukraine, and Northern Ireland.

Half the team could be sold
The final tournament of the European Championship is an ideal opportunity for players to secure a more lucrative contract or improve terms in their current deals. We asked football agents which Slovak players have the best chance to attract interest. (...) According to Tokos, a player needs to meet several criteria to move to a bigger club after the tournament: stand-out performances during the championship, be at a good age—ideally under 25—and play in a league that makes transfers easier. “If the team does well, the players with the best chance to change clubs are Róbert Mak, Patrik Hrošovský, Ondrej Duda, and Vladimír Weiss,” Tokos said. (...)