That they are great off the field, the Slovenians showed even before the first match at Euro 2024 when they ran onto the field with black flora in honor of our Matija Šarkić, and that they also play good football and that they were deserved in Germany during the second half of the match with Denmark...
In the end they got to the big point - the first match in group C played in Stuttgart ended 1:1.
"You didn't believe me that these guys are special - I'm really happy, especially because of their character. Many teams would have backed off after the tie, but they went for the goal," said Slovenia coach Matjaž Kek after the match.
His selection did not get into the duel with the Scandinavians in the right way, maybe everything was influenced by the fact that they appeared at the European Championship after 24 years, so they also conceded the goal somewhat naively.
The game was played in the 17th minute when the Danes quickly and cunningly took out, and the action after that was finished by Christian Eriksen - the guy who survived the drama after a heart attack exactly 1.100 days ago at the opening of the previous Euro in Copenhagen, now shook the net at the beginning of the new championship.
Denmark dominated during the first 45 minutes, but it remained 1:0... And while Kek's reaction was expected during the break, the Slovenian coach decided on an unusual move - he stayed on the side of the field, and left the players to decide on their own in the dressing room how they better play in the sequel.
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That he is an old football wolf, the expert from Maribor showed this time as well - the second half brought a completely different "dragons".
The brilliant Benjamin Šeško and Andraž Šporar started to trouble the defense of Kasper Hjulmand's team, and the chances began to arrive - Adam Gnezda Čerin shot a header wide of the goal, and the bomb and the post of the Leipzig striker were the announcement of a goal.
He arrived in the 77th minute - the projectile of the left back of Poland's Gornji Erik Janža with a deviation pierced the net of Kasper Šmajhel. The scoreboard in Stuttgart showed 1:1, Slovenia deservedly equalized.
"Kites" were flying in those moments, Denmark was severely shaken, it seemed that the Slovenians could deliver the final blow, but it remained a draw... A point that leaves both of them with a great chance to advance to the next round.
"A point as big as Triglav," read the website of Radio Television of Slovenia.
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