Hockey fans want to know where Slovakia is and when SVK split with Czechoslovakia

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The United States men's hockey team is taking on an unfamiliar opponent in the Olympic semifinal on Friday night in Milan.

Slovakia was a surprise to make it to this point, having only a quarter of the NHL players that the U.S. has, and very little of the star power.

But that's where Team USA finds itself, having to get past Slovakia to reach the gold medal game, where Canada awaits.

Fans are asking many of the same questions about Slovakia, and we've got answers.

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Where is Slovakia?

Slovakia is a European country.

It's landlocked in central Europe and actually touches five countries.

On the north is Poland. 

Ukraine is to the east.

Hungary is on the southern border.

Austria touches Slovakia from the soutwest.

The Czech Republic is to the northwest.

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When did Czechoslovakia split?

Czechoslovakia officially broke up on Jan. 1, 1993.

It was a peaceful, negotiated separation. 

It formed two countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The other half, which now competes at the Olympics as Czechia, nearly upset Canada in the quarterfinal round of these men's hockey Olympics.

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