Matej Kek received only one cap for Slovenia as a participant, however in two spells as supervisor of the nationwide workforce, the previous Maribor defender is a a lot greater presence.
Victory over Algeria on the 2010 World Cup is their solely success at a serious match and it got here below Keck, who in 2018 began the second stage and orchestrated the ultimate qualification.
The participation in Germany will likely be solely the fourth main worldwide match for the previous Yugoslav republic, which has been taking part in as an impartial group since 1992.
Other than Euro 2000, the place they drew two video games and misplaced the opposite within the group stage, Slovenia additionally certified for the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, however have to this point didn’t progress past the group stage.
This time round, they are going to be hoping to make an even bigger influence in Group C, the place they face qualifiers Denmark first in Stuttgart on June 16, earlier than taking over Serbia and Euro 2020 runners-up England.
“We’re a comparatively younger workforce and the potential is large,” Keck advised the media. “There are fairly a couple of gamers who’ve come via youth and are already mature gamers.
“How Biol changed into a improbable participant, [as has Adam] Terin nest. It makes you assume we cannot have to attend one other 24 years and even 12-13 years to qualify for our subsequent massive competitors.
“I’m satisfied that Slovenia is not going to exist [Euro 2024] do sightseeing. We’re not going there as vacationers. We go there to compete. I need guys to be aggressive and they’ll take that angle. Why do not we take into consideration attending to the group stage?”
How did they qualify for Euro 2024?
Slovenia used a positive draw within the Germany 2024 qualifiers to achieve their second European Championship 24 years after their debut look on the match.
They misplaced simply twice, ending second in Group H, stage on factors with Denmark and forward of Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Eire and San Marino to e-book their place within the finals.
Slovenia had seven wins and 22 factors in qualifying, each information for them in a serious match qualifying marketing campaign.
Who’re the important thing gamers in Slovenia?
Keck, 62, leads a workforce with little expertise, save for captain and goalkeeper Ian Oblak, however with a number of thrilling prospects.
The perfect within the checklist is 20-year-old ahead Benjamin Sesco, who scored 5 objectives within the qualifying marketing campaign.
“He is a superb fashionable striker. I do not know the place he’ll play subsequent season, he’ll determine, however for now I’ll get pleasure from him this summer time,” Keck advised Italian reporters.
“We’re speaking a couple of bodily robust heart ahead who has made nice technical progress month after month.
“He got here to his senses [the national team] when he was nonetheless a younger man: a boy of 17, and since then I’ve watched him develop into a person. He turned a vital a part of the workforce. Regardless of his youth, he carries some vitality in himself – the character of a diligent boy who trains day and evening to realize his objective.
“Once in a while I’ve to cease him somewhat bit and calm him down: it is simply an incredible vitality [that he has]. He is sort of a magnet and so constructive. It is clear that his cuteness and flamboyant public appearances let little girls and boys know that loads of work, coaching, and sacrifice goes behind it. [success].”
Oblak, 31, is taken into account top-of-the-line goalkeepers in world soccer and has received the Europa League and reached the Champions League ultimate in 10 seasons with Atletico Madrid. However that is the primary main match for him.
What are their probabilities of reaching the spherical of 16?
Getting out of Group C would imply success for the workforce with out a nickname.
Returning to the Euros after a protracted absence is a supply of pleasure for the Slovenians, and a 2-0 win over Portugal in a pleasant in March made their opponents sit up and take discover.
“We’re joyful, glad and proud. It’s deserved for this era of footballers; they restored religion in Slovenian soccer,” Keck added.
A triumphant return on the European Championships would doubtless coincide with a profitable match for Seško, who has two assists to associate with these 5 objectives in 9 qualifying matches – probably the most objectives and assists of any Slovenian participant.
All seven objectives have are available his 5 dwelling video games, so he might want to present he can produce the identical consequence on international soil.
The excellent news is that the match is going down in Germany, the place he performs 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 marketing campaign’s final seven Bundesliga matches.
This has sparked curiosity from Premier League golf equipment together with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, however the uncertainty surrounding his fast future has been put to mattress.
Cesc is claimed to have a launch clause in his deal which might enable him to pay £55m by the top of June. He has now signed a brand new contract with the Bundesliga membership.
Comparisons have been drawn with Erling Haaland, who additionally performed for Crimson Bull Salzburg earlier than dipping his toe within the Bundesliga, Haaland at Borussia Dortmund and Cesc at Leipzig.
Within the second half of his debut season, Sesko broke into the German aspect’s beginning 11, and his 14 objectives in 31 league appearances helped Leipzig qualify for the Champions League.
The ahead, who was eligible to play for both Slovenia or Bosnia and Herzegovina – his mom was born within the latter – has scored 11 objectives in 28 internationals since making his debut in 2021.
Cesko performed down comparisons with Haaland, saying his childhood hero was former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is similar top.
“Personally, I do not actually take into consideration comparisons,” Cesko mentioned after signing for Leipzig.
“Erling is a fully world-class striker. I get pleasure from watching his video games on TV and clearly I take note of what he does in several recreation conditions, however like I mentioned, I am a very completely different kind of participant.”
View from Slovenia: The followers have excessive expectations
Sky Sports activities Senior Soccer Journalist Peter Smith talked to Damir Krznar – who’s the top coach of the Slovenian champion “Cele” – in regards to the nation’s probabilities of success on the match.
“It is not that always to get to the Euros or the World Cup, so there’s actual euphoria,” Krznar mentioned. “You’ll be able to really feel it in each metropolis in Slovenia. They actually consider of their workforce. The group is fairly good for them. And the general public expects lots.
“That they had Denmark within the qualifying group. It wasn’t precisely clear. Denmark, particularly in Denmark, was a step forward, they have been the higher workforce. However they drew in Slovenia, to allow them to anticipate lots.
“They anticipate lots from the sport in opposition to Serbia. They consider they will get via the group and something additional is a bonus for them.
“Slovenia are tactical and, as a gaggle, a harmful workforce for certain.”
What system will they play?
“All through the qualification, they performed in a 4-4-2 formation,” says Krznar. “It really works very effectively. Defensively they’re very steady, with Oblak in objective, with a superb construction. Each workforce has had issues with them within the offensive components. So they’re superb defensively and so they attempt to lower all the nice issues from the workforce opponent, and they’re fairly profitable at it.
“They’re fast in assault and from that defensive unit they are often very harmful.”
Can Slovenia use England’s left flank?
“Zan Karnicnik will play without any consideration winger,” Krznar says of his Tsel defender. “I take advantage of him extra at left wing-back. He is a superb participant within the attacking part. Defensively, he might need some points, however he is a really good man and might forestall one-on-one conditions.
“He is aware of tips on how to make choices when he assaults and when he runs again he waits for help, so he’s an excellent participant. And what is excellent for him, as a winger, there may be [Petar] Stojanovic, who can also be initially a full again and that’s the place he performs in Italy for Sampdoria.
“Keck makes use of him within the nationwide workforce as a winger. So, with Karnicnik and Stojanovic, they’re an excellent workforce. They have been each superb through the qualifying marketing campaign.”
The tip of the fairy story for Ilyich?
Krznar beforehand coached Josip Ilicic throughout their time collectively in Maribor. The 26-year-old has bounced again from despair after being out of motion, taking part in for Maribor in his homeland earlier than making a goal-scoring return to worldwide responsibility final month. He’s now within the ultimate 26-man nationwide squad for Euro 2024
“He is like a brand new spring,” Krznar mentioned. “He is choosing up once more. A terrific participant. Everybody is aware of him from Atalanta. He is a giant participant, an ideal participant, and he was most likely the primary participant in all the league this spring [Slovenian PrvaLiga for Maribor].
“He has reached an ideal stage. I’m very joyful for him. I hope he is usually a good shock for Slovenia within the match as a result of 10-Quarter-hour is sufficient for him to determine a recreation.
“His particular person qualities are maybe within the high 20 in the entire of Europe. It is only a matter of bodily traits, time, however he is additionally a really good man. Tactically a really good man. Good in ending, however even higher in passing.”
The total workforce of Slovenia
Goalkeepers: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid), Vid Belec (APOEL), Igor Vekic (Veille).
Defenders: Petar Stojanovic (Sampdoria), Jako Biol (Udinese), Miha Blazic (Lech Poznań), Jure Balkovec (Alanyaspor), Zan Karnicnik (Cele), David Brekala (Orlando Metropolis), Eric Janza (Gornik Zabrze), Vanja Drkusic (Sochi) .
Midfielders: Timi Max Elsnik (Olympia Lublin), Jasmin Kurtic (Sudzirol), Benjamin Verbic (Panathinaikos), Sandi Lovrich (Udinese), Adam Hnezda Cerin (Panathinaikos), Jon Gorenc Stankovic (Sturm Graz “), Tommy Horvath (“Sturm Graz”), Adrian Zelkovich (Spartak Trnava), Nino Zugel (Bodo/Glimt).
forwards: Josip Ilicic (Maribor), Andraj Sporar (Panathinaikos), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), Zan Celar (Lugana), Jan Mlakar (Pisa), Zan Vipotnik (Bordeaux).