Matjaz Kek received only one cap for Slovenia as a participant however throughout two spells as supervisor of the nationwide staff the previous Maribor defender is having a much more vital presence.
Victory over Algeria on the 2010 World Cup is their solely success at a serious match and got here underneath Kek, who launched into his second stint in 2018 and has engineered the newest qualification.
Participation in Germany will mark solely the fourth main worldwide match for the previous Yugoslav republic, who’ve been taking part in as an impartial entity since 1992.
In addition to Euro 2000, the place they drew two video games and misplaced the opposite within the group section, Slovenia additionally certified for the World Cup in 2002 and 2010 however have but to transcend the group stage.
This time spherical they are going to be hoping to make extra of an impression in Group C the place they meet qualifying rivals Denmark first in Stuttgart on June 16 after which Serbia and Euro 2020 runners-up England.
“We’re a comparatively younger nationwide staff and the potential is big,” Kek advised the media. “There are fairly plenty of gamers who’ve come by means of the youth ranks and are already now senior regulars.
“Jaka Bijol has developed right into a unbelievable participant, [as has Adam] Gnezda Cerin. It makes you suppose that we cannot have to attend one other 24 years and even 12 to 13 years to qualify for our subsequent massive competitors.
“I am satisfied that Slovenia will not be at [Euro 2024] to do sightseeing. We aren’t going there as vacationers. We’re going there to compete. I would like the fellows to be aggressive and they’re going to take that angle. Why ought to we not take into consideration progressing by means of the group stage?”
How did they qualify for Euro 2024?
Jan Oblak has revamped 300 appearances for Atletico Madrid
Slovenia made essentially the most of a beneficial draw within the qualifiers for Germany 2024 to achieve their second European Championship, 24 years after their debut look on the match.
They misplaced solely twice as they completed second in Group H, degree on factors behind Denmark and forward of Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Eire and San Marino, to guide a spot on the finals.
Slovenia collected seven wins and 22 factors in qualifying, each data for them in a serious match qualifying marketing campaign.
Who’re Slovenia’s key gamers?
Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko is considered among the best younger abilities in Europe
Kek, 62, leads a staff with little in the best way of expertise, save for captain and goalkeeper Jan Oblak, however with a number of thrilling prospects.
The most effective of the lot is 20-year-old ahead Benjamin Sesko, who scored 5 objectives within the qualifying marketing campaign.
“He’s the trendy striker par excellence. I do not know the place he’ll play subsequent season, he’ll resolve however, for now, I will take pleasure in him this summer season,” Kek advised Italian reporters.
Nicknamed ‘The Octopus of Skofja Loka’, 31-year-old Oblak can count on a busy match
“We’re speaking a couple of bodily robust centre-forward who has made nice progress additionally technically, month after month.
“He got here to [the national team] when he was only a lad: a 17-year-old boy, and since then I’ve been watching him develop into a person. He has develop into an important a part of the staff. Regardless of his youthfulness, he carries a form of vitality – the character of a diligent boy who would practice day and evening to realize his aim.
“Once in a while, I’ve to cease him a bit and calm him down: it is simply the superb vitality [that he has]. He is sort of a magnet, and such a optimistic one. It’s clear that his likeability and splendid public appearances are making it identified to little girls and boys that there’s a lot of labor, coaching, and sacrifices behind this [success].”
The 31-year-old Oblak is considered among the best keepers in world soccer and in his 10 seasons at Atletico Madrid has received the Europa League and been to the Champions League ultimate. However it is a first main match for him.
What are their possibilities of reaching the spherical of 16?
Linked with Premier League golf equipment and set to face England for Slovenia – watch all of Benjamin Sesko objectives for RB Leipzig within the Bundesliga this season.
Escaping Group C would signify success for a nationwide staff with no nickname.
A return to the Euros after a prolonged absence is a supply of a lot delight for the Slovenes and a 2-0 win over Portugal in a March pleasant could have made opponents sit up and take discover.
“We’re glad, delighted, and proud. It is well-deserved for this technology of footballers; they’ve restored religion in Slovenian soccer,” added Kek.
A triumphant return at a European Championships would more than likely coincide with a profitable match for Sesko, who offered two assists to accompany these 5 objectives in 9 qualifying appearances – essentially the most objectives and assists mixed of any Slovenian participant.
All seven of these aim involvements got here in his 5 dwelling video games, so he might want to present he can produce the identical output on international soil.
The excellent news is that the match is going down in Germany, the place he plies his commerce with RB Leipzig.
The 21-year-old ahead scored 18 objectives in all competitions for Leipzig final season, together with objectives in every of the final seven Bundesliga matches of the marketing campaign.
Matjaz Kek insists Slovenia aren’t going as vacationers
It has sparked loads of curiosity from Premier League golf equipment, together with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United however uncertainty surrounding his quick future has been put to mattress.
Sesko was mentioned to have a launch clause in his deal that might have made him out there for £55m till the tip of June. He has now signed a brand new contract with the Bundesliga membership.
Sesko’s warmth map and shot map for RB Leipzig in his debut Bundesliga season
Comparisons have been drawn with Erling Haaland, who additionally performed for Purple Bull Salzberg earlier than dipping a toe within the Bundesliga, Haaland at Borussia Dortmund and Sesko at Leipzig.
Sesko performed his approach into the German aspect’s beginning 11 within the second half of his debut season, and his 14 objectives in 31 league matches helped clinch a Champions League berth for Leipzig.
The ahead, who was eligible to play for both Slovenia or Bosnia & Herzegovina – his mom was born within the latter – has scored 11 objectives in 28 internationals since making his debut in 2021.
Sesko has downplayed comparisons to Haaland, whereas saying his boyhood hero was former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is identical peak.
“Personally, I do not suppose a lot of comparisons,” Sesko mentioned after signing for Leipzig.
“Erling is a completely world-class striker. I take pleasure in watching his video games on TV and clearly take note of what he does in numerous conditions within the recreation however as I’ve already mentioned I’m a very totally different kind of participant.”
View from Slovenia: Followers have massive expectations
Sky Sports activities soccer journalists Ron Walker and Joe Shread analyse the specter of Slovenian goalscorer Benjamin Sesko who was on the wished lists of many Premier League golf equipment.
Sky Sports activities senior soccer journalist Peter Smith spoke to Damir Krznar – who’s head coach of Slovenian champions Celje – concerning the nation’s possibilities of success on the match.
“It isn’t so widespread to achieve a Euros or World Cup so there may be actual euphoria,” mentioned Krznar. “You may really feel it in each city in Slovenia. They actually consider of their staff. The group is kind of good for them. And the gang count on loads.
“They’d Denmark within the qualifying group. It was not equal for positive. Denmark, particularly in Denmark, was one step forward, they had been the higher staff. However in Slovenia it was a draw, to allow them to count on loads.
“They count on loads within the recreation in opposition to Serbia. They consider that they’ll go the group and every little thing after that’s fairly a bonus for them.
“Slovenia is tactically and, as a gaggle, a harmful staff, for positive.”
What system will they play?
“All through the qualifiers they performed 4-4-2,” says Krznar. “This features very effectively. Defensively, they’re very secure, with Oblak within the aim, with good construction. Each staff had an issue with them in offensive elements. In order that they’re excellent in defensive form and so they attempt to minimize all the good things from the opponent staff. And so they’re fairly profitable in that.
“Offensively they’re quick and from this defensive block they are often very harmful.”
Can Slovenia exploit England’s left-hand aspect?
Zan Karnicnik will type a part of Slovenia’s proper aspect
“Zan Karnicnik will play at proper full-back,” says Krznar about his Celje defender. “I exploit him extra at left full-back. He is a superb participant within the offensive section. Defensively, he can have some issues however he is a really intelligent man and might stop one-on-one conditions.
“He’s good in making selections when he assaults and when he runs again, he waits for help, so he is an excellent participant. And what is excellent for him, in entrance of him, as a winger, he has [Petar] Stojanovic, who can be initially a full-back and that’s the place he performs in Italy for Sampdoria.
“Kek makes use of him within the nationwide staff as a winger. In order that they’re an excellent staff on this aspect with Karnicnik and Stojanovic. They had been each excellent in the course of the qualifying marketing campaign.”
Fairytale finish for Ilicic?
Josip Ilicic is again within the nationwide staff after struggling melancholy
Krznar has beforehand coached Josip Ilicic throughout their time collectively at Maribor. The 26-year-old has re-emerged from a time away from the sport with melancholy, starring for Maribor again in his homeland after which making a goal-scoring return to worldwide responsibility final month. He’s now part of his nation’s ultimate 26-man squad for the Euro 2024
“He is like new spring,” mentioned Krznar. “He rises once more. Wonderful participant. All people is aware of him from Atalanta. He is an enormous participant, nice participant, and this spring he was for positive participant primary in the entire league [Slovenian PrvaLiga for Maribor].
“He reached a superb degree. I am so glad for him. I hope he could be a excellent shock for Slovenia within the match as a result of for him 10-Quarter-hour is sufficient to remedy the sport.
“His particular person high quality is, possibly, the standard of high 20 in all of Europe. It is solely concerning the bodily, the timing, however, he is additionally a really intelligent man. Tactically, very sensible man. Good in ending however in assists much more.”
Full Slovenia squad
Goalkeepers: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid), Vid Belec (APOEL), Igor Vekic (Vejle).
Defenders: Petar Stojanovic (Sampdoria), Jaka Bijol (Udinese), Miha Blazic (Lech Poznan), Jure Balkovec (Alanyaspor), Zan Karnicnik (Celje), David Brekalo (Orlando Metropolis), Erik Janza (Gornik Zabrze), Vanja Drkusic (Sochi).
Midfielders: Timi Max Elsnik (Olimpija Ljubljana), Jasmin Kurtic (Sudtirol), Benjamin Verbic (Panathinaikos), Sandi Lovric (Udinese), Adam Gnezda Cerin (Panathinaikos), Jon Gorenc Stankovic (Sturm Graz), Tomi Horvat (Sturm Graz), Adrian Zeljkovic (Spartak Trnava), Nino Zugelj (Bodo/Glimt).
Forwards: Josip Ilicic (Maribor), Andraz Sporar (Panathinaikos), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), Zan Celar (Lugano), Jan Mlakar (Pisa), Zan Vipotnik (Bordeaux).
