Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel will not play friendly at Luxembourg for Slovakia. Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel has a thigh injury and is out of Wednesday's friendly at Luxembourg.

The Slovak football federation said Tuesday in a statement that Skrtel had left the national squad and will undergo treatment back at Liverpool after discussions with the Premier League club.

Skrtel was injured in Sunday's match against Chelsea.

Liverpool's Slovakian defender Martin Skrtel has said that he is extremely pleased with the kind of competition at Liverpool. Skrtel is currently paired with Daniel Agger but with Jamie Carragher set to return from a dislocated shoulder in the coming weeks, Sotirios Kyrgiakos waiting in the wings, centre-back Martin Kelly excelling on the right and youngster Danny Wilson not even getting close to the squad, he knows he cannot afford to let his standards slip.

"I have played in almost every game this season and each time I always try to do my best for the team," he said.

Michel Platini has said that he would welcome the idea of the combined Czech Republic and Slovakia leagues. "I'm not negative about it, I don't say no," said Platini, speaking at the end of a two-day meeting of UEFA's executive committee meeting here.

"We have to think about it. It's not just you (the Czech Republic and Slovakia) who are thinking about it. There are lots of national associations that would like to be reunited eventually."

There has been debate in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in recent months about how a joint championship could be beneficial to both countries.

Bosnia defeated Slovakia 3-2 in a friendly match a fortnight ago. Bosnia was rewarded for playing attacking football against Slovakia, which reached the second stage of the World Cup in South Africa, in the first match between the two teams.

Filip Sebo put Slovakia ahead after just three minutes with a close-range shot after collecting a pass from Peter Pekarik.

Haris Medunjanin equalized from the edge of the area in the 28th minute, after the Slovak defense failed to clear a corner, with his first international goal.

Slovakia moved up in the latest FIFA rankings due to their impressive recent results. Slovakia, have shifted 11 positions up and occupied 16th place, previously owned by the Russians.

Vladimir Weiss will stay on as Slovakia coach after signing a new four year deal. The new four-year deal will encompass the qualifying matches for the 2012 European Championships and the 2014 World Cup.

“It would be wrong not to continue to co-operate with Vladimír Weiss,” said SFZ vice-president Stanislav Strapek. “It's good news for Slovak football. I wish the coach good health, the right choices in forming the team, good colleagues and support from the fans.”

Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss has gambled on the fitness of four players, including Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, in his 23-man World Cup squad.

Skrtel, who has been out with a broken metatarsal since February, came through Saturday's 1-1 draw against Cameroon.

Captain Martin Hamsik also played but Filip Holosko and Robert Vittek, who are in the squad, sat out the friendly.

Slovakia's most experienced player, Mainz midfielder Miroslav Karhan, 33, is out with an Achilles injury.

Weiss admitted he has taken a gamble on Turkish-based strike duo Holosko and Vittek.

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Slovakia beat off competition from Slovenia, Czech Republic and Poland to qualify for their first World Cup in history. Young Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik is the team's star player and national team coach Vladimir Weiss is full of praise for the attacking midfielder.

"It’s true that there are older and more experienced players in the team, but Marek is incredibly gifted, a world class player and worth his weight in gold," said Weiss to the FIFA website.

Highly rated midfielder Marek Sapara left Norwegian giants Rosenborg for an adventure at Turkcell Super Lig side Ankaragucu last winter and the Slovakian midfielder is hopeful the move will improve his chances of making it to the 2010 World Cup.

"I am very happy at my new club. I needed to change, and wanted to play in bigger leagues and for stronger teams," 27-year-old Sapara was quoted as saying on the official UEFA website.