Slovakia star Stanislav Lobotka will be looking to pass England into submission during Sunday’s Euro 2024 clash… the old-style midfield artist is admired by Xavi and Andrea Pirlo and is always thinking three steps ahead

Stanislav Lobotka is the ultra-cunning playmaker who will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Andrea Pirlo and Luka Modric by bringing England into submission.

At 6ft tall, with his simple haircut and understated manner, Lobotka looks like an unlikely modern footballer. Still, it’s unlikely that anyone who sees him play will soon forget him.

Lobotka, who plays at the heart of the Slovakian central three, is an old-fashioned midfielder for the modern game. Like an expert snooker or chess player, he always thinks three or four steps ahead.

He completed 172 of his 184 passes in the tournament, but that only tells a fraction of the story. Lobotka’s range is complete: long, short, medium distance; left, right, forward, backward. Lobotka has the keys to this Slovak team. If England also give him the keys for Sunday’s last-16 tie in Gelsenkirchen, I’ll be very lucky to get them off him.

England have already made this mistake in big games against Pirlo, Modric and Dutch star Frenkie de Jong, not to mention Jorginho and Marco Verratti in the Euro 2020 final. It would be unwise to repeat the experience.

If Lobotka’s numbers don’t convince you, listen to the words of a master. His idol Xavi Hernandez won 28 trophies during a stunning career for Barcelona and Spain and during his two years as coach at Nou Camp, he never concealed his admiration for Lobotka.

Asked before a Champions League match between Barca and Napoli last March which player he would take from the opposition, Xavi said: ‘I would choose Lobotka. I admire his play-building skills and his ability to keep possession.’

Pirlo is equally enthusiastic. “The best playmaker in the Italian league,” said the Italian great, who inspired victories over England at Euro 2012 and the World Cup two years later.

It’s a surprise that no Premier League club saw Xavi and Pirlo do it. While at Celta Vigo from 2017 to 2020, Lobotka was introduced to several English clubs and was available for little more than the £4 million Celta paid for him to Danish club Nordsjaelland.

Asked about the Premier League’s reaction, a Spanish scout told Mail Sport: ‘Lukewarm would be an understatement. His height was an issue and there was a general feeling that clubs didn’t really know who he was.

‘Because he didn’t score many goals for Celta, he was criticized early in his time there until people realized it was money well spent. Still, it surprised one or two that Napoli paid £20m for him.’

As is so often the case for Cristiano Giuntoli – the technical director who left Napoli for Juventus in July 2023 – it turned out to be a smart move. Lobotka was a key member of the Napoli team that swept away the competition a year ago to win only the third Serie A title in their history – and their first without Diego Maradona in the team.

There seems little chance that Lobotka will now move to the Premier League. He turns 30 in November and with resale value prominent in the minds of recruiting chiefs, that’s probably too old. He may also struggle with the speed and ferocity of the English game, but as Modric showed during four years at Tottenham, you don’t have to look like a superhero to rule midfield.

Besides, Lobotka seems fine where he is. “Napoli contacted me and wanted me to stay with them,” he said. “I’m happy there, so I’m staying. The people there have a great mentality, the weather is great, the beaches are great, the food is fantastic.”

That will not stop some technical directors from wondering why they did not listen more closely to the scouts who told them that they should take a closer look at the stylish midfielder who is developing smart patterns at Celta de Vigo.

And if Lobotka tricks England into his web on Sunday, that sense of regret will only increase.