‘England cannot underestimate Slovenia – they’re in a golden era of sport’
It hasn’t been vintage from England so far – far from it.
Gareth Southgate’s side have been slow and sluggish in their opening two clashes against Serbia and Denmark. Slovenia now wait on Tuesday (June 25) as, arguably, the easiest opponent of the lot.
The European minnows don’t have the history of the Danish, nor the fear factor of the Serbs – but underestimating Slovenia could be costly for our Gareth.
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On paper, Slovenia have two standout players: between the sticks, there’s Jan Oblak. At 31-years-old, the Atletico Madrid stopper is no spring chicken – but he has experience on par with just about any of the Three Lions.
And then there’s forward Benjamin Sesko, their danger man. RB Leipzig star Sesko has been something of an open secret in the Bundesliga – and he’s taken his talents to the European stage so far at this summer’s festival of football.
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(Image: Getty Images)
Okay, two players don’t make a team – but what Southgate and Co can’t see from a starting line-up is the wave of sporting success that’s currently engulfing Slovenia.
For a country of just over two million, they’re used to winning.
It’s usually in the winter sports, where thrill seekers from across the globe flock to the ski slopes that rise out of Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, where the foothills of the Alps kiss the Balkans.
(Image: AFP)
However, in recent years, that trend has changed. Undoubtedly the biggest star in the small country is Luka Doncic.
Doncic, 25, can put in an argument for being the star of the NBA – he almost dragged his Dallas Mavericks kicking and screaming to the World Title last month. Doncic is the talk of the town, TV ratings spike whenever he graces their sets.
Slovenians have rallied around him, as they have their national team, staying up into the early hours to watch their hero embarrass the Americans at their own game.
(Image: Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
However, Doncic isn’t their only sporting hero – this weekend the Tour de France rolls out of Florence, and two out of the four clear favourites hail from the small nation.
Primoz Roglic, who cut his teeth throwing himself off mountains before switching to cycling, is eyeing his first Tour success – at perhaps his last opportunity.
While Tadej Pogacar, the only Slovenian who can rival Doncic’s popularity, is gunning for history. Pogacar, 25, wants to become the greatest of all time, and winning the Tour and Giro d’Italia in the same season might do that.
(Image: Getty Images)
Winning has become something of a national obsession on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
Tuesday evening’s game isn’t one that Southgate can take lightly – it’s a game that could provide him with his Iceland-moment that still haunts Roy Hodgson.
That night in Nice has to stand as a warning – Gareth, please, bring us back three points.
