Szoke played again in the national team jersey, heading for a trial in Italy

Julius Szoke has added to his number of appearances for Slovakia’s youth national team. The 14-year-old footballer from Hnusta played this week in two international matches against Hungary’s under-15 side. In the friendly match held on Thursday, May 6, in Rimavska Sobota, Szoke Jr. started in the lineup, and earlier on Tuesday, May 4, in Hungary, he came on as a substitute.

Slovakia’s under-15 national team lost 1–2 (0–1) in Rimavska Sobota against Hungary’s under-15s. With the score still goalless, Slovakia missed a penalty. Szoke played 70 minutes before leaving the pitch due to injury. He was positioned in central midfield. He showed some good footballing actions, though not everything went according to his plans. He repeatedly tried to shoot, with his effort in the 51st minute being the most dangerous, but the Hungarian goalkeeper made a fine save. He still has to wait for his first international goal.

“Szoke played actively, he tried hard. Overall, our play was not what we had envisioned, which probably affected his performance as well. But he definitely belonged among those players who did not disappoint. He was one of the better-rated players,” Slovakia under-15 coach Rudolf Novak told Echoviny.sk.

On Tuesday, Slovakia had drawn 2–2 with Hungary’s under-15s in Mezokovesd. Szoke, who plays for ŽP Šport Podbrezova, came on in the second half.

“He’s a football-minded boy, with decent technical skills when working with the ball. I also think he is on a good level tactically. What all of these boys are missing are experiences from demanding, tough matches. The competition they play in doesn’t test them enough to prepare them for international fixtures,” Novak said. According to him, Szoke has potential for the future. “If nothing negative affects him, he should in the future be a benefit not only for youth national teams but also for senior football,” the youth national coach noted.

Hnusta, Rimavska Sobota, and Podbrezova have so far been Szoke Jr.’s football stops. In the coming days, he faces a trial in Italy. “Julko is going for a week-long trial at Calcio Padova. Another player from Slovan Bratislava is also going, travelling with them is football agent Jozef Tokos, and I will go as well to see how things work there. Everything has been arranged by the agent. We’ll see how it turns out,” Julius Szoke Sr. told Echoviny.sk.