[RockyS]

Originally posted on 06/01/2010:

Slovenia – the country, the football

The “Republika Slovenija”, as it is called in Slovene, is a 20,273 km˛ 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.

Slovenia came from a 2-1 deficit in the first leg of the play-offs to overcome the 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.

Slovenia’s 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 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, Slovenia 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 finished with 20 points – two behind the table’s leaders Slovakia, and four above the Czech Republic.

They had therefore secured tickets for the play-offs, 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.

How it happened…

As scheduled, Slovenia travelled in Russia in the first leg of the play-offs before hosting their counterparts.

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.

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, 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 own 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 has been 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 13th at 13:30 South African local time. 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 be in agony and 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 the second match of the group stages, Slovenia will affront 2009 Confederations Cup runners-up the USA in Johannesburg. The match has been scheduled to start at 16:00 local time, on June 18th.

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 defeat 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 23rd at 16:00 local time.

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 into the finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Slovenia – 2010 FIFA World Cup squad

01. HANDANOVIČ Samir 14. 07. 1984 Udinese, ITA
12. HANDANOVIČ Jasmin 28. 01. 1978 Mantova, ITA
16. ŠELIGA Aleksander 01. 02. 1980 Sparta R., NED



13. JOKIČ Bojan 17. 05. 1986 Chievo, ITA
04. ŠULER Marko 09. 03. 1983 Gent, BEL
05. CESAR Boštjan 09. 07. 1982 Grenoble, FRA
06. ILIČ Branko 06. 02. 1983 FC Moscow, RUS
22. MAVRIČ-ROŽIČ Matej 29. 01. 1979 TuS Koblenz, GER
03. DŽINIČ Elvedin 25. 08. 1985 Maribor, SVN
02. BREČKO Mišo 01. 05. 1984 FC Cologne, GER
19. FILEKOVIČ Suad 16. 09. 1978 Maribor, SVN


17. KIRM Andraž 06. 09. 1984 Wisla Krakow, POL
20. KOMAC Andrej 04. 12. 1979 Maccabi Tel-Aviv, ISR
15. KRHIN Rene 21. 05. 1990 Inter, ITA
21. STEVANOVIČ Dalibor 27. 09. 1984 Vitesse Arnhem, NED
08. KOREN Robert 20. 09. 1980 W.B.A., ENG
18. RADOSAVLJEVIČ Aleksander 25. 04. 1979 Larissa, GRE
10. BIRSA Valter 07. 08. 1986 Auxerre, FRA


11. NOVAKOVIČ Milivoje 18. 05. 1979 FC Cologne, GER
14. DEDIČ Zlatko 05. 10. 1984 Bochum, GER
09. LJUBIJANKIČ Zlatan 15. 12. 1983 Gent, BEL
07. PEČNIK Nejc 03. 01. 1986 Nacional, POR
23. MATAVŽ Tim 13. 01. 1989 Groningen, NED

Slovenia – Expectations from the country and its top stars

The first thing that Slovenia 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 from the match-day one of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign to the final leg in the play-offs.

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.

Ironically, 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.”

Video from qualifications


Highlights from Russia vs Slovenia


Highlights from Slovenia vs Russia


Most of the world doesn't know our flag and they are way to much mistakes about that (wrong anthem,flag etc...)

Here is our flag
In our flag you can see three stars, three "spikes" that are actually representing our highest mountain Triglav (three head - can't find the right word for it in English, sorry) and two lines that are representing our rivers and sea.


And our anthem with english lyrics


Few more videos about Slovenia(not related to soccer) and beauty of it