Weiss, Weisser, Weissest?

The middle Weiss has covered his family name in glory by taking Slovakia to their first major tournament as an independent nation. The coach used to be a central midfielder, playing 12 times for Slovakia in the twilight of his career. He also made 19 appearances for Czechoslovakia, including at the 1990 World Cup, before the Slovaks parted company with the Czechs in 1993.

Now 45, he spent his entire club career in the two domestic leagues, having started in 1984 at unfancied Slovakian outfit Agro Hurbanovo.

Weiss scored 28 goals in 126 games for Inter Bratislava from 1986 to 1993 before a brief stint with Czech giants Sparta Prague, followed by quiet spells at Petra Drnovice and DAC Dunasjka Streda.

He played at FC Kosice for one season before joining Artmedia Petrzalka in 1996, where he spent the last four years of his playing career.

In three coaching spells at Artmedia, Weiss won two Slovakian league titles and two national Cups before he took over the national team ahead of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.  Slovakia's unsuccessful Euro 2008 campaign did not suggest they could win automatic qualification for South Africa but Weiss imbedded much-needed steel at the back, enabling Slovakia to score 22 and let in just 10 goals in 10 World Cup qualifiers and seal their progress.

With his son selected to carry on the family name, coach Weiss is careful to deflect any suggestions of favouritism.

"I expected some to say he was receiving preferential treatment but it's not an issue now," he said of the most junior Vladimir. "It was soon obvious that he was in on merit."