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 event and got here beneath 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 event 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 part, 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 are a relatively young national team and the potential is huge,” Kek informed the media. “There are fairly quite a few gamers who’ve come by means of the youth ranks and are already now senior regulars.
“Jaka Bijol has developed right into a implausible participant, [as has Adam] Gnezda Cerin. It makes you assume that we can’t have to attend one other 24 years and even 12 to 13 years to qualify for our subsequent huge competitors.
“I’m convinced that Slovenia won’t be at [Euro 2024] to do sightseeing. We are not going there as tourists. We are going there to compete. I want the guys to be competitive and they will take that attitude. Why should we not think about progressing through 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 succeed in their second European Championship, 24 years after their debut look on the event.
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 e-book a spot on the finals.
Slovenia collected seven wins and 22 factors in qualifying, each data for them in a serious event qualifying marketing campaign.
Who’re Slovenia’s key gamers?
Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko is considered the most effective younger abilities in Europe
Kek, 62, leads a staff with little in the way in which 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 is the modern striker par excellence. I don’t know where he will play next season, he will decide but, for now, I’ll enjoy him this summer,” Kek informed Italian reporters.
Nicknamed ‘The Octopus of Skofja Loka’, 31-year-old Oblak can anticipate a busy event
“We’re talking about a physically strong centre-forward who has made great progress also 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 grow to be a vital a part of the staff. Regardless of his youthfulness, he carries a form of power – the character of a diligent boy who would prepare day and night time to realize his aim.
“From time to time, I have to stop him a bit and calm him down: it’s just the amazing energy [that he has]. He is like a magnet, and such a positive one. It is clear that his likeability and splendid public appearances are making it known to little boys and girls that there is a lot of work, training, and sacrifices behind this [success].”
The 31-year-old Oblak is considered the most effective 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 this can be a first main event for him.
What are their probabilities of reaching the spherical of 16?
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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 characterize 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 are happy, delighted, and proud. It’s well-deserved for this generation of footballers; they have restored faith in Slovenian football,” added Kek.
A triumphant return at a European Championships would most certainly coincide with a profitable event 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 residence video games, so he might want to present he can produce the identical output on overseas soil.
The excellent news is that the event is happening 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 fast future has been put to mattress.
Sesko was mentioned to have a launch clause in his deal that will have made him accessible 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 Crimson Bull Salzberg earlier than dipping a toe within the Bundesliga, Haaland at Borussia Dortmund and Sesko at Leipzig.
Sesko performed his means into the German facet’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 don’t think much of comparisons,” Sesko mentioned after signing for Leipzig.
“Erling is an absolutely world-class striker. I enjoy watching his games on TV and obviously pay attention to what he does in different situations in the game but as I’ve already said I am a completely different type of player.”
View from Slovenia: Followers have huge expectations
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Sky Sports activities soccer journalists Ron Walker and Joe Shread analyse the specter of Slovenian goalscorer Benjamin Sesko who was on the needed 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 probabilities of success on the event.
“It’s not so common to reach a Euros or World Cup so there is real euphoria,” mentioned Krznar. “You can feel it in every town in Slovenia. They really believe in their team. The group is quite good for them. And the crowd expect a lot.
“That they had 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 anticipate lots.
“They expect a lot in the game against Serbia. They believe that they can pass the group and everything after that is quite 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 capabilities 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 superb in defensive form and so they attempt to reduce all the good things from the opponent staff. And so they’re fairly profitable in that.
“Offensively they are fast and from this defensive block they can be very dangerous.”
Can Slovenia exploit England’s left-hand facet?
Zan Karnicnik will type a part of Slovenia’s proper facet
“Zan Karnicnik will play at right full-back,” says Krznar about his Celje defender. “I use him more at left full-back. He’s an excellent player in the offensive phase. Defensively, he can have some problems but he’s a very clever guy and can prevent one-on-one situations.
“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 superb for him, in entrance of him, as a winger, he has [Petar] Stojanovic, who can also be initially a full-back and that’s the place he performs in Italy for Sampdoria.
“Kek uses him in the national team as a winger. So they’re a very good team on this side with Karnicnik and Stojanovic. They were both very good during the qualifying 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’s like new spring,” mentioned Krznar. “He rises again. Excellent player. Everybody knows him from Atalanta. He’s a huge player, great player, and this spring he was for sure player number one in the whole league [Slovenian PrvaLiga for Maribor].
“He reached a superb degree. I am so completely satisfied for him. I hope he could be a superb shock for Slovenia within the event as a result of for him 10-Quarter-hour is sufficient to resolve the sport.
“His individual quality is, maybe, the quality of top 20 in all of Europe. It’s only about the physical, the timing, but, he’s also a very clever guy. Tactically, very smart guy. Good in finishing but in assists even 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).
