SANDY, Utah (Tuesday, August 27, 2019) – Real Salt Lake MF Albert Rusnák has been called in to the Slovakian National Team for two matches in UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying Croatia in Slovakia on September 6 and on the road against Hungary on September 9. Rusnák will be available on Saturday when Real Salt Lake faces the Portland Timbers before joining his country ahead of the qualifying matches.
Slovakia is currently 2-1-0 through the first three matches of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying and is second to Hungary in Group E. The top two teams in each group qualify for the final tournament, which is scheduled to take place from June 12-July 12 of 2020.
“We are proud of Albert and excited for this opportunity for him to play in some very important matches for Slovakia,” RSL General Manager Craig Waibel said. “He remains a prominent contributor for Slovakia and a key piece to the puzzle for Real Salt Lake and we are happy for him to have earned that opportunity.”
Rusnák, 25, has nine goals and five assists in 24 matches this season, giving him 26 goals and 26 assists in 85 matches since coming to Real Salt Lake prior to the 2017 season. In his first MLS season, Rusnák finished fourth in the league with 14 assists and added seven goals to earn the club’s Golden Boot and MVP honors. In 2018, he had 10 goals and seven assists, helping RSL reach the MLS Cup Playoffs, ousting LAFC in the Knockout Round before falling in the Western Conference Semifinals to Sporting Kansas City.
Since his first appearance for Slovakia in 2016, Rusnák has five goals in 20 caps, including one in a 2-0 win over Hungary in the first match of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying on March 21, 2019.
Real Salt Lake is currently second in the Western Conference standings at 13-10-4 (43 points) and faces the Portland Timbers on Saturday at Providence Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT with live coverage on KMYU, the KSL TV app and ESPN 700.
