Slovenia - the country, the football
The “Republika Slovenija”, as it is called in Slovene, is a 20,273 km² square country which counts just over 2 million inhabitants. Slovenia is actually located in Central Europe, near the Alps. Italy, the Adriatic Sea, Croatia, Hungary, and Austria are its neighboring countries.
This little European nation got its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and later got recognized in 1992. Since May 2004, Slovenia are part of the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and NATO among other big organizations. Slovenia is not regarded among Europe’s most powerful nations but this factor did not overturn the country’s wish to qualify for the finals of the World Cup in South Africa.
Their national football team came from a 2-1 deficit in the first leg of the play-off to overcome 2008 European championship semi-finalists Russia en route to South Africa 2010. Considering the manner in which they reached their second World Cup tournament in four attempts, Slovenia might celebrate their qualification at the expense of big nation Russia as their greatest ever achievement in football.
In the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, Slovenia suffered a first round exit. Will they improve on their past experiences in 2010?
Slovenia – the road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa
Drawn in Group 3 along the likes of 2006 World Cup participants Poland and the Czech Republic, Slovenia were analytically not tipped as favorites to qualify as runners-up at least.
Their first qualifier was against Poland away from home on September 6, 2008. Holding the hosts to a 1-1 draw in fact predicted that this small nation were going to have a bright road to the finals of the 2010 World Cup.
Ironically, the player that scored Slovenia’s last goal en route to the South Africa 2010 was the same player who scored Slovenia’s first goal of the qualifying campaign; it was Dedic’s 35th minute goal who canceled out Poland’s opener for a vital draw in the first match-day of the European World Cup qualifiers.
Four days later, Slovenia welcomed Slovakia in Maribor in front of almost 10,000 spectators. The home side did not disappoint their fans as they scored a goal in each half to win 2-1 in the end. The story was almost similar on match-day three of the 2010 World Cup qualification campaign. It was another win for Slovenia thanks to goals from Novakovic and Ljubijankic; in the space of a minute towards the dying moments of the match, Slovenia had defeated Northern Ireland.
But their run of three matches unbeaten finally came to and end as they stumbled to a 1-0 loss away from home in the first part of a double header against the Czech Republic. In the return leg of this tie, Slovenia failed to score for the second time in row but they still earned a point with a goalless draw.
However, Slovenia’s goal drought really came as an issue when they lost 1-0 away to Northern Ireland only to bring troubles to themselves. But the months of April, September, and October saw the Slovenes bouncing back with four victories on the trot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The first of those was a heavy 5-0 win at home to San Marino followed by an emphatic 3-0 victory against Poland. In the last two games of the campaign, Slovenia beat Slovakia and San Marino again to finish as runners-up in Group 3.
They terminated with 20 points - two behind the table’s leaders Slovakia, and four above the Czech Republic. They had therefore secured tickets for the play-off, but the fear that finishing second in a difficult group would be their last achievement was alive.
Play-off
In the play-offs, Slovenia were drawn against tough side Russia who had missed out on automatic qualification against Germany. In terms of the nations’ size, it looked more of a David and Goliath affair.
Slovenia’s population (2 million people) is not even equal to 2% of Russia’s entire population (145 million inhabitants). Ironically, Slovenia knocked out ‘Goliath’ as they defied all the odds by qualifying into the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at the expense of the Russians.
This outcome shocked Russia and most football followers around the world. Who would have expected the likes of Arshavin and coach Guus Hiddink to miss the trip to South Africa 2010 at the expense of minnows like Slovenia?
How it happened...
As scheduled, Slovenia travelled to Russia for the first leg of the play-off before hosting their counterparts four days later. When Everton’s Bilyaletdinov doubled Russia’s lead early in the second half, most people thought that it was marking the end of Slovenia’s challenge. But the visitors, who believed in their chances, never stopped fighting hard throughout the evening.
Guus Hiddink’s Russians looked safe until Slovenia’s Pecnik scored with two minutes of normal time remaining. In the very last moments of the game, it almost seemed like Slovenia were going to grab an equalizer. But Russia succeeded in standing firm and holding on to their victory.
The visitors went back home defeated but with the conviction that overturning the result wasn’t an impossible thing to do. In front of the 12,510 fans that filled the Stadion Ljudski vrt on November 18th, Slovenia performed a miracle. They defeated hot favorites Russia 1-0 through Dedic’s 44th minute lone goal.
At everyone’s amazement, Slovenia held on until the very last second of the game was over to deny Russia of scoring on their soil. Subsequently, they qualified for the second time only into the finals of a World Cup. They'll embrace the warm atmospher of South Africa in June 2010.
Slovenia – 2010 World Cup group stages
Slovenia’s reward for being so brave throughout the qualifying stages was finally revealed. On December 4th, it was declared that this small nation would have to face the likes of England, of the United States, and of Algeria.
Match-day One: Algeria vs Slovenia
Slovenia’s first match at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will come up on June 13, at 11:30 GMT. The game will be staged at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane which holds a capacity of 46,000 seats.
This clash looks equally balanced, looking at both team’s World Cup history and both team’s memorable manner in which they reached the finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Both of these teams are considered as the underdogs of Group C so the loser of this match will certainly have to face the agony and the danger of crashing out early.
For Slovenia, beating Algeria would give them their first points in the finals of a World Cup.
Match-day Two: Slovenia vs USA
In their second match in the group stages, Slovenia will affront 2009 Confederations Cup runners-up the USA in Johannesburg. The match on June 18 has been scheduled to start at 16:00 South African local time, which is equivalent to 14:00 GMT.
The majority of gamblers might go for a USA win but this doesn’t mean that Slovenia will not make things hard. Looking at Slovenia’s impressive defense and excellent form since the year 2008, an upset is a realistic prospect.
It will be historic if one of the smallest nations on the planet defeated the world’s most powerful country, the United States of America.
Match-day Three: Slovenia vs England
The underdogs of Group C will be facing The Three Lions in Port Elizabeth come June 23, at 14:00 GMT again. Slovenia are presently not seen as potential winners of this upcoming clash. However, only time and destiny will unfold the fate of the teams in Group C.
No one knows how important this match will prove to be and if Slovenia will be on course to qualifying into the Round of 16 at that point in time. On paper, there is only one winner which has to be England. However, it will be unwise to underestimate Slovenia after being aware of the recent great form which fired them from Europe to the finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Slovenia – 2010 FIFA World Cup squad
Goalkeepers:
Aleksander Seliga; Jasmin Handanovic; Samir Handanovic
Defenders:
Elvedin Dzinic; Suad Filekovic; Marko Suler; Bojan Jokic; Matej Mavric-Rozic; Branko Ilic; Bostjan Cesar; Miso Brecko
Midfielders:
Rene Krhin; Aleksander Radosavljevic; Dalibor Stevanovic; Andrej Komac; Valter Birsa; Robert Koren; Andraz Kirm
Strikers:
Tim Matavz; Nejc Pecnik; Zlatan Ljubijankic; Zlatko Dedic; Milivoje Novakovic
Slovenia – Expectations from the country and its top stars
The first thing that the Slovenes would want to do at the 2010 World Cup is to grab at least a point for the first time in the finals of a World Cup. The country played for the first time in this major tournament back in 2002. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the best of memories going back home.
Slovenia were left in misery, having conceded seven goals and scored only two in the three matches of the group stage. After losing all of the three matches, they became last in a section that contained the likes of Spain, Paraguay and South Africa.
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament, Slovenia will hope to build on their splendid form to keep performing wonders. Two players that might play the trick for Slovenia one more time are Milivoje Novakovic and Dedic.
Zlatko Dedic
He opened and closed Slovenia’s scoring sheet by netting the first goal on match-day one of the country's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign and getting the last and only goal in the play-off.
Dedic is a striker who offers Slovenia a lot of contribution. He didn’t score much throughout the campaign but his goals against Poland and Russia proved to be very decisive. In the end, Zlatko Dedic can be praised for his enormous influence in Slovenia’s qualification for South Africa 2010.
Interestingly, the only three goals that Dedic has scored for his country in his twenty-two appearances are the ones that he scored against Poland (in both legs) and against Russia, in Slovenia’s last competitive game ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Milivoje Novakovic
Novakovic certainly has what it takes to help Slovenia engrave their prints in South Africa 2010. The 6 ft 4 in striker scored five goals for his country during the qualifiers. The first of those two came in a vital 2-1 win at home to Slovakia.
Novakovic is expected to perform at his full best in June as Slovenia aim to transform their unknown figure into dangerous underdogs.
Slovenia – Relevant quote
Slovenia coach, Matjaz Kek: “We will try to do our best”
“We will try to do our best. […] we are enormously motivated and we have a lot of heart. The victory over Russia in the play-off has boosted us with a lot of confidence although we weren’t surprised by it.
“All the time, we believe in ourselves. We know that we can do very well when we’re prepared.”
Slovenia – World Cup record
Only one appearance and one group stage exit after gathering zero points from the only three matches that they've played in a World Cup. Here's Slovenia's small record:
2010: Qualified
2002: Round 1
Can Slovenia keep riding on the great track that led them into the finals of the 2010 World Cup tournament? Will they finally stumble against the rest of the teams in Group C and exit from the first round again?
To have answers to these questions among many other interrogations, stick with LiveSoccerTV.com throughout the 2010 World Cup tournament in South Africa. This site will give you exclusive coverage on everything that happens between June 11 and July 11!
