Slovakia Qualifies For First World Cup ... In the Snow

Since Czechoslovakia dissolved into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the late 80’s, Slovakia has never qualified for a World Cup. That moment is now here, as the Slovaks topped Poland 1-0 immediately after heavy snowfall — most fans didn’t even make it to the game — in Chorzow.

↵For a long dissertation on why this is such a big deal to Slovakia, check out the New York Times’s Goal blog. This just in: Europeans take their soccer seriously.