Matjaz Kek gained only one cap for Slovenia as a participant however all over two spells as supervisor of the nationwide workforce the previous Maribor defender is having a much more important presence.
Victory over Algeria on the 2010 Global Cup is their best good fortune at a significant event and got here below Kek, who launched into his 2nd stint in 2018 and has engineered the fresh qualification.
Participation in Germany will mark best the fourth main global event for the previous Yugoslav republic, who’ve been enjoying as an isolated entity since 1992.
In addition to Euro 2000, the place they drew two video games and misplaced the alternative within the crew segment, Slovenia additionally certified for the Global Cup in 2002 and 2010 however haven’t begun to progress past the crowd degree.
This moment spherical they are going to be hoping to build extra of an have an effect on in Workforce C the place they meet qualifying opponents Denmark first in Stuttgart on June 16 and next Serbia and Euro 2020 runners-up England.
“We are a relatively young national team and the potential is huge,” Kek advised the media. “There are relatively various avid gamers who’ve come during the early life ranks and are already now senior regulars.
“Jaka Bijol has developed into an out of this world participant, [as has Adam] Gnezda Cerin. It makes you suppose that we gained’t have to attend any other 24 years and even 12 to 13 years to qualify for our then heavy festival.
“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 remodeled 300 appearances for Atletico Madrid
Slovenia made probably the most of a beneficial draw within the qualifiers for Germany 2024 to succeed in their 2nd Eu Championship, 24 years nearest their debut look on the event.
They misplaced best two times as they completed 2nd in Workforce H, degree on issues in the back of Denmark and forward of Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Eire and San Marino, to store a park on the finals.
Slovenia accrued seven wins and 22 issues in qualifying, each data for them in a significant event qualifying marketing campaign.
Who’re Slovenia’s key avid gamers?
Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko is thought of as one of the crucial easiest younger skills in Europe
Kek, 62, leads a workforce with negligible in the way in which of revel in, save for captain and goalkeeper Jan Oblak, however with a number of thrilling possibilities.
The most productive of the quantity is 20-year-old ahead Benjamin Sesko, who scored 5 targets 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 advised Italian journalists.
Nicknamed ‘The Octopus of Skofja Loka’, 31-year-old Oblak can be expecting a hectic 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 used to be only a lad: a 17-year-old boy, and because next I’ve been looking at him develop into a person. He has turn out to be an overly impressive a part of the workforce. Regardless of his youthfulness, he carries a kind of power – the nature of a diligent boy who would educate life and evening to reach his target.
“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 thought of as one of the crucial easiest keepers in global soccer and in his 10 seasons at Atletico Madrid has gained the Europa League and been to the Champions League ultimate. However this can be a first main event for him.
What are their possibilities of attaining the spherical of 16?
Escaping Workforce C would constitute good fortune for a countrywide workforce with out a nickname.
A go back to the Euros nearest a long absence is a supply of a lot pleasure for the Slovenes and a 2-0 win over Portugal in a March pleasant may have made warring parties sit down up and snatch understand.
“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 go back at a Eu Championships would perhaps coincide with a a hit event for Sesko, who equipped two assists to accompany the ones 5 targets in 9 qualifying appearances – probably the most targets and assists blended of any Slovenian participant.
All seven of the ones target involvements got here in his 5 house video games, so he’s going to wish to display he can manufacture the similar output on overseas ground.
The excellent news is that the event is taking park in Germany, the place he plies his business with RB Leipzig.
The 21-year-old ahead scored 18 targets in all competitions for Leipzig utmost season, together with targets in each and every of the utmost seven Bundesliga fits of the marketing campaign.
Matjaz Kek insists Slovenia aren’t going as vacationers
It has sparked enough of passion from Premier League golf equipment, together with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United however doubt atmosphere his fast generation has been put to mattress.
Sesko used to be stated to have a drop clause in his offer that may have made him to be had for £55m till the top of June. He has now signed a untouched pledge with the Bundesliga membership.
Sesko’s warmth map and shot map for RB Leipzig in his debut Bundesliga season
Comparisons had been drawn with Erling Haaland, who additionally performed for Pink Bull Salzberg prior to dipping a toe within the Bundesliga, Haaland at Borussia Dortmund and Sesko at Leipzig.
Sesko performed his manner into the German aspect’s foundation 11 in the second one part of his debut season, and his 14 targets in 31 league fits helped clinch a Champions League berth for Leipzig.
The ahead, who used to be eligible to play games for both Slovenia or Bosnia & Herzegovina – his mom used to be born within the closing – has scored 11 targets in 28 internationals since making his debut in 2021.
Sesko has downplayed comparisons to Haaland, presen announcing his boyhood hero used to be former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is identical peak.
“Personally, I don’t think much of comparisons,” Sesko stated nearest 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: Enthusiasts have heavy expectancies
Sky Sports activities senior soccer journalist Peter Smith stated to Damir Krznar – who’s head mentor of Slovenian champions Celje – in regards to the nation’s possibilities of good fortune on the event.
“It’s not so common to reach a Euros or World Cup so there is real euphoria,” stated 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.
“They’d Denmark within the qualifying crew. It used to be now not equivalent evidently. Denmark, particularly in Denmark, used to be one step forward, they have been the simpler workforce. However in Slovenia it used to be a draw, so they may be able to be expecting a quantity.
“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 bunch, a perilous workforce, evidently.”
What system will they play?
“Right through the qualifiers they performed 4-4-2,” says Krznar. “This purposes rather well. Defensively, they’re very solid, with Oblak within the target, with excellent construction. Each and every workforce had a weakness with them in offensive portions. In order that they’re superb in defensive circumstance they usually effort to snip the entire excellent stuff from the opponent workforce. And so they’re relatively a hit in that.
“Offensively they are fast and from this defensive block they can be very dangerous.”
Can Slovenia exploit England’s left-hand aspect?
Zan Karnicnik will method a part of Slovenia’s proper aspect
“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 excellent in making selections when he assaults and when he runs again, he waits for backup, so he’s an excellent participant. And what is excellent for him, in entrance of him, as a winger, he has [Petar] Stojanovic, who could also be in the beginning 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 workforce nearest struggling melancholy
Krznar has prior to now coached Josip Ilicic all over their moment in combination at Maribor. The 26-year-old has re-emerged from a moment clear of the sport with melancholy, starring for Maribor again in his place of birth and next creating a goal-scoring go back to global responsibility utmost future. He’s now part of his community’s ultimate 26-man squad for the Euro 2024
“He’s like new spring,” stated 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 an finest degree. I’m so satisfied for him. I’m hoping he could be a superb awe for Slovenia within the event as a result of for him 10-Quarter-hour is enough quantity to unravel 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.”
Complete 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 Town), 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).
