Our lion on the prowl in central Europe thought he would find a football-mad country gripped with excitement ahead of tomorrow’s clash.
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But even with England’s stuttering start to the Euros, locals in capital Bratislava reckon their team — managed by a former coffee seller — have no chance.
Top-flight footie in this nation of just 5.4million attracts League Two-sized crowds and ice hockey is the No1 sport for many.
Student Richard Krosner, 18, said: “Our teams are not very good.
“People here are more interested in watching the English Premier League.
“I am surprised we made it to the last 16.”
Waiter Aidrian Herceg, 31, added: “I don’t think we are good enough to get a result.
“Although you never know, it might be a draw — and we then win on penalties.”
Sun mascot Harry arrived in Bratislava as an unknown quantity.
No-one there had ever heard of him despite his starring appearance at the Qatar World Cup with The Only and Only singer Chesney Hawkes.
But he soon had the locals cheering him as he ran around the fountain in the Old Town’s main square and posed for snaps with locals and tourists.
Around a million tourists now visit Bratislava each year where they can sample the national dish, a potato dumpling concoction made with sheep’s cheese and fried bacon – washed down with a glass of sour milk.
That might sound hard to stomach, but if Slovakia do get an unlikely win it will be Gareth Southgate feeling green around the gills.
TOP FACTS ON SLOVAKIA
- NATIONAL dish Bryndzové halušky is made from potato dumplings, sheep cheese and bacon.
- THE country came into existence in 1993 after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
- DEVIL’S Rock, a boulder balancing on its corner, is a famous attraction.
- ANGELINA Jolie and Andy Warhol’s families both originally come from there.
- WHEN Slovaks meet they kiss each other on the cheek.