Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Sloveniavs.Denmark

sportsmole.co.uk, 14 June 2024, 09:46
Two Euro 2024 competitors with knockout aspirations in mind commence their Group C campaigns at the MHPArena on Sunday evening, as Slovenia and Denmark go head-to-head.

The teams convene in Stuttgart, where Matjaz Kek's men will bid to finally win a match at the Euros finals, while their Danish foes seek to emulate their luminaries of 1992.

Match preview

Making an early case to be one of the surprise packages of this summer's tournament in Germany, Slovenia only missed out on top spot in qualifying owing to an inferior head-to-head points tally against Denmark, giving Kek's men an early incentive to go for broke on Sunday.

Nevertheless, a 22-point haul sufficed for second place in their preliminary section, propelling Slovenia back to the continent's premier international tournament for the first time since 2000, where they made their debut as an independent nation following the breakup of Yugoslavia.

That campaign 24 years ago ended with Slovenia bowing out in the group stage and failing to win any of their three contests, but the world's 57th-ranked nation have been laying down some early markers in competitive and non-competitive action, only suffering one defeat in their last 12 contests.

Furthermore, Kek has masterminded a six-match unbeaten run heading into Sunday's opening tie - a sequence which includes a 2-0 giant killing of one of the tournament favourites Portugal - as well as successes over the United States, Kazakhstan and Armenia.

A 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in their final warm-up friendly was nothing for the Slovenians to shout about, but that low-key stalemate at least extended their scoring sequence to an equally impressive 12 matches, and it would have been exactly a year since their last blank when they take to the field on Sunday.

Indeed, June 16, 2023 was the last time that Slovenia failed to fire in front of goal - going down 2-0 in Euros qualifying to Finland - although the latter's Scandinavian counterparts Denmark also have recent when it comes to outwitting their upcoming foes in 90 minutes.

Thirty-two years on from shocking the globe at Euro 1992, Denmark have both fond and frustrating memories of the delayed 2020 edition, where they reached the semi-finals and gave England a terrific run for their money before a torturous extra-time elimination.

Kasper Hjulmand's men failed to follow up that performance with a deep World Cup run - under-performing in Qatar with a group-stage exit - but the Red and Whites kept faith in their 52-year-old leader, whose side lived up to their first-placed expectations in qualifying.

There were a couple of chinks in the Danes' armour, though - evidenced by shock defeats to Kazakhstan and Northern Ireland - but since the turn of the year, the Red and Whites have had the look of a side who mean business at this summer's tournament.

Indeed, a goalless draw with Switzerland preceded a trio of straight wins over the Faroe Islands, Sweden and Norway for the Euro 92 champions, whose 1-1 stalemate and 2-1 beating of Slovenia in qualifying prolonged their unbeaten run against their unfancied foes to six from six.

Slovenia form (all competitions):

W

W

D

W

W

D

Denmark form (all competitions):

W

L

D

W

W

W

Team News

On the back of scoring five goals in qualifying and snubbing interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United to sign a new contract with RB Leipzig, 21-year-old attacking hotshot Benjamin Sesko headlines the Slovenia selection, which also includes former Atalanta BC star Josip Ilicic.

However, the 36-year-old - now representing Maribor in his homeland - will likely lose out to Panathinaikos attacker Andraz Sporar for the second striker's spot alongside Sesko, while Atletico Madrid number one Jan Oblak sports the captain's armband in between the posts.

In terms of Slovenia's fitness situation, winger Benjamin Verbic was unable to complete the full training session on Wednesday and is a slight doubt, but right-back Peter Stojanovic has made a full recovery from the muscle injury that forced him to miss both of this month's friendlies.

Meanwhile, Denmark boss Hjulmand has already been forced to make one alteration to his final squad, as Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson succumbed to injury and had to be replaced by Zanka, one of four Brentford players in the Red and Whites' ranks.

On a much brighter note, Christian Eriksen is fit and raring to go three years after his traumatising cardiac arrest at Euro 2020; the Manchester United man is the highest goalscorer in the current squad with 41 and second-most capped behind all-time record holder Simon Kjaer (132).

While Eriksen is surely nailed-on to start, the same cannot be said of ageing defender Kjaer, while Bees midfielder Christian Norgaard missed training on Thursday for precautionary reasons but is expected to be fine for the weekend.

Slovenia possible starting lineup:

Oblak; Karnicnik, Blazic, Bijol, Janza; Horvat, Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sesko, Sporar

Denmark possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Maehle, Hojbjerg, Hjulmand, Kristiansen; Eriksen; Hojlund, Damsgaard

We say: Slovenia 1-2 Denmark

Throughout their qualifying competition and warm-up period, Slovenia showed that there are not to be taken lightly by any stretch, especially with the 6ft 5in Sesko ending the Bundesliga season as he means to go on with goals in seven straight matches.

Previews by email

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea star Cole Palmer will be bidding to add to an incredible Premier League record when he lines up against Leicester City on Saturday afternoon. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The Premier League is back and that can only mean one thing. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester City are confident of agreeing a lucrative new contract with Erling Haaland after Pep Guardiola agreed to stay, talkSPORT understands. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to build on their impressive win over Osasuna before the international break when they resume their domestic campaign with a clash against Leganes on Sunday evening. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered a mixed injury update ahead of the Reds' imminent showdowns with Southampton in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The January transfer window is an opportunity for teams to fix their summer spending on the cheap, or in these cases, for free. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Kai Havertz may have transformed himself at Arsenal - but he's not on the level of his Premier League rivals. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Reece James has suggested that he is remaining upbeat over his latest hamstring injury. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Mohamed Salah is one of the world's best players and he has become one of the top five Liverpool goalscorers ever. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Phil Foden is a superstar for Manchester City, but he still opts to wear an unconventional number at his boyhood club. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The latest instalment of the Basque derby will take place at San Mames on Sunday night, with Athletic Bilbao welcoming rivals Real Sociedad for what should be a highly-charged affair. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa will be looking to extend a Premier League feat when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having entered the international break with a run of three straight defeats, both Torino and Monza will try to stop the rot on Sunday, when they lock horns in Turin. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Third kits in the Premier League have caught the eye this season and you will certainly notice a unique difference from typical strips… 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Premier League home clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon is their "biggest game of the season" so far, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sevilla will attempt to bounce back from successive defeats in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a fixture against Rayo Vallecano at Estadio Ramon on Sunday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will endeavour to maintain or increase their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table when they pit their wits against Southampton on Sunday at St Mary's. 22 November 2024 talksport.com There can't be many things better for a football fan than to see your side score within the first minute of a game. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fifth will welcome fourth in an intriguing La Liga contest on Sunday afternoon, with Villarreal making the trip to El Sadar Stadium to tackle Osasuna. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Jose Mourinho once confirmed he received an offer from the FA to become England manager after leaving his first spell as Chelsea boss. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle have the chance to close in on the Premier League's top four on Monday when they host West Ham, live on talkSPORT. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by 19 places and 24 points in the Premier League table, Southampton and Liverpool cross paths in Sunday's Premier League showdown at St Mary's Stadium. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is expecting to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for Sunday's Premier League bout with Southampton at St Mary's. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to make it successive victories in La Liga when they resume their campaign with a clash against Leganes on Sunday evening. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The Premier League has been treated to the talents of some of the best African footballers of all time over the years. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton head coach Russell Martin will be forced into at least two changes for Sunday's Premier League clash with leaders Liverpool at St Mary's. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester City face another legal dispute with the Premier League after amendments to top-flight sponsorship rules were voted through. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to continue their sensational unbeaten streak, Lille will welcome a struggling Rennes outfit to Decathlon Arena on Sunday afternoon for a Ligue 1 clash. 22 November 2024 talksport.com If Micah Richards had a glimmer of hope he would replace Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host, he is sorely mistaken. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pedro Porro's agent is reportedly 'convinced' that Ruben Amorim will attempt to bring the Tottenham Hotspur defender to Manchester United following his arrival at Old Trafford.