SLOVAKIA coach Vladimir Weiss has gambled by including a trio of semi-fit players in his 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

SLOVAKIA coach Vladimir Weiss has gambled by including a trio of semi-fit players in his 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has been picked as he continues his recovery from a foot injury, while strike duo Filip Holosko (Besiktas) and Robert Vittek (Lille) are both included after recently returning from a broken leg and a knee problem respectively.

“There are still question marks,” admitted Weiss. “In case of an injury anything can happen.”

Weiss has included his highly-rated son, Vladimir junior, in his squad after some encouraging national team appearances during qualification and on loan with Bolton from Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Napoli star Marek Hamsik was included as expected.

Slovakia squad: Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw, Poland), Dusan Kuciak (Vaslui, Romania), Dusan Pernis (Dundee United, Scotland); Marek Cech (West Brom, England), Jan Durica (Hannover, Germany), Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg, Germany), Martin Petras (Cesena, Italy), Kornel Salata (Slovan Bratislava), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool, England), Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz, Germany); Marek Hamsik (Napoli, Italy), Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava), Jan Kozak (Politehnica Timisoara, Romania), Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague, Czech Republic), Marek Sapara (Ankaragucu, Turkey), Zdeno Strba (Xanthi, Greece), Miroslav Stoch (Chelsea, England), Vladimir Weiss (Manchester City); Filip Holosko (Besiktas, Turkey), Martin Jakubko (Saturn Moscow, Russia), Erik Jendrisek (Schalke, Germany), Stanislav Sestak (Bochum, Germany), Robert Vittek (Lille, France).