Posts Tagged ‘Slovenia’

Koren: Slovenia focused on last 16

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Slovenia captain Robert Koren insists his team still believe they can attain their pre-tournament goal of reaching the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup™ – even if they have to eliminate England to do it.

Koren and co were eight minutes away from securing a place in the knockout phase when Michael Bradley’s goal for the United States meant they took one point from their second Group C game instead of three. One point will do nicely against England in Port Elizabeth tomorrow, while that result would probably send England home early.

Slovenia’s qualification play-off victory over Russia is testament to their ability to cause an upset and Koren sees no reason why they cannot spring a surprise against England.

“It was a big achievement for the country to come to the World Cup but now everybody wants to improve,” the former West Brom midfielder said. When we arrived in South Africa we said we wanted to go through the group stage and we are full of confidence that we can. We already expected before the tournament to go through the group stage, and this is still the same. We all know that England is a really good team with big players in their squad, but we are not thinking too much about England – we will concentrate on ourselves and the way we want to play,” he said.

“The first game, England versus the USA, England played OK, we saw some good things and bad things, and it was the same in the second game against Algeria. England didn’t show the football we expected, but we all need to know that England will be ready.”

Central defender Marko Suler is still suffering with a rib injury sustained in the game against the USA and is set to be replaced by Matej Mavric, while Nejc Pecnik, who featured as a substitute against the Americans, has been flown home for treatment on an ankle injury which is expected to sideline him for three months.

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Posted in Latest News, Slovenia | No Comments »

Slovenia-England preview

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

After two disappointing England performances it is crunch time for Fabio Capello and his squad with this game deciding if they are to stay on at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ or rather return home on Thursday with their tails between their legs. Slovenia are in a far healthier position and know that a draw will be enough to carry them into the knockout rounds for the first time at a major tournament.

The match
Slovenia-England, Group C, Port Elizabeth, 16.00 (local time)

Slovenia were not expected to create major waves at this tournament but so assuredly have they gone about their business that they find themselves in a position to create history for their country. England, on the other hand, are trying to avoid history because you have to go all the way back to 1958 for the last time they failed to advance from the initial group phase of a FIFA World Cup in which they were participating.

In only their second FIFA World Cup, Slovenia gained new admirers with a competent dismissal of Algeria in their first game. They then put themselves in with a great chance of taking maximum points from two games when they led USA 2-0 only to be rocked by the force of the Americans’ recovery which earned them a point.

England first delighted their supporters by taking an early lead in Rustenburg against USA but then saw two points slip through goalkeeper Robert Green’s fingers as he failed to hold onto Clint Dempsey’s speculative shot from outside the area. It seemed a given that they would then make amends against Algeria but they produced an even more lacklustre performance with the African side having the better of a 0-0 draw. England need to win to progress. If they draw they can progress if USA-Algeria also ends in a draw in which case goals scored will be the deciding factor.

Players to watch
Milivoje Novakovic v John Terry

Slovenia’s leading scorer in qualifying, Milivoje Novakovic is without a goal to his name so far at South Africa 2010 and, with only a single shot in two games, he will be anxious to get off the mark at the third time of asking. Novakovic will do battle with John Terry who finds himself with a third different central defensive partner at this tournament following injury to Ledley King and the suspension of Jamie Carragher.

That is one problem Terry has to deal with. The other is the controversy that has submerged him since the draw with Algeria and his subsequent comments that he intented to initiate a team discussion with Capello about where England were going wrong. In the end it was Capello who reasserted his authority over his former captain, leaving a contrite Terry to apologise to him and the squad.

The stat
1 – the number of times England have been defeated in their third and final match in the initial group phase. They lost 1-0 to Spain in 1950.

What they said
“The players need to help each other out, and be self-confident, brave and determined. If they do that, then I’m sure we’ll see another big, big show – a show that will make Slovenia and its players into household names around the world,” Matjaz Kek, Slovenia coach

“I don’t understand why during a game we don’t change the rhythm or the speed. We are really slow. At this World Cup if you don’t run or press or fight it is difficult to go forward,” Fabio Capello, England coach

The question
It’s the million-dollar question for England supporters: can they put all that has transpired over the last few days behind them and bring their performance levels back to what is expected of them? Or are they stuck in a trough of poor form?

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Slovenia look to cut England down to size

Monday, June 21st, 2010

The motto is everywhere you look at Slovenia’s training camp – “Never Judge Greatness By Size” – and England will do well to heed the warning on Wednesday.

To qualify for the FIFA World Cup™, the team from a nation of just two million people knocked out Russia in a play-off and were eight minutes away from beating the United States in their second Group C match. If they had held on, Slovenia would have been safely through to the knockout stages before their meeting with Fabio Capello’s men in Port Elizabeth.

Slovenia captain Robert Koren is confident his side can dent the egos of England’s Premier League stars and is a firm believer in the slogan, written in English, which dominates their base in the wealthy Hyde Park area of Johannesburg.

“It was a big achievement for the country to come to the World Cup but now everybody wants to improve,” he said.

“England didn’t show the football we expected, but we all need to know that England will be ready.”

Robert Koren, Slovenia captain

“When we arrived in South Africa we said we wanted to go through the group stage and we are full of confidence that we can. We already expected before the tournament to go through the group stage, and this is still the same.

“We all know that England is a really good team with big players in their squad, but we are not thinking too much about England – we will concentrate on ourselves and the way we want to play,” he said.

“In the England - USA game, England played okay, we saw some good things and bad things, and it was the same in the second game against Algeria. England didn’t show the football we expected, but we all need to know that England will be ready.”

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek traded some information with England boss Fabio Capello when, after learning that Matthew Upson was set to start in place of the suspended Jamie Carragher, he revealed that Marko Suler’s rib injury was likely to rule him out with Matej Mavric expected to come in.

Nejc Pecnik, one of the heroes of the play-off success against Russia, is out for three months with an ankle problem but otherwise Kek’s side are at full strength.

That means Koren and talented playmaker Valter Birsa should play and could cause problems for England, so much so that Kek is confident he does not need to pay attention to the other Group C match between USA and Algeria.

While the public mood in England appears to be shifting away from Capello, Kek gets the sense that back in Ljubljana his country is united in excitement.

“Our whole nation is together, they are following our successes,” he said. “They are together like the team is together at the moment.”

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Little and large ready for battle

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Slovenia, the smallest nation at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, can clinch a second-round berth and deliver a stunning blow to the tournament’s largest nation if they beat the USA on Friday.

The match in Johannesburg pits the FIFA World Cup’s largest and smallest nations in terms of population and land area, and it is Slovenia, with about two million people, that can reach the last 16 by downing the USA, which has about 300 million people.

After a 1-1 opening draw with England on Saturday, the Americans find themselves needing a victory to overtake Slovenia, who were 1-0 winners over Algeria in the other Group C opener.

USA coach Bob Bradley believes the Slovenia game might be “more of a chess match” compared to the fast and physical pace of the match against England. “They are a hard-working team,” said Bradley. “They are organized. They have an ability to sit back a little more and still get you on the counter.”

“They are organized. They have an ability to sit back a little more and still get you on the counter.”

Bob Bradley, USA coach

“It’s going to be very difficult as the tournament goes on and the results get more crucial,” added USA defender Oguchi Onyewu.

Medically, there was good news for the Americans on Monday as goalkeeper Tim Howard was diagnosed with bruised ribs and although he was set to undergo further evaluation on Monday, Bradley expects him to be ready to face Slovenia.

Bradley was pleased at how the USA team, with seven players making their first FIFA World Cup appearance, held strong after falling behind 1-0 to England just four minutes in, something he credited to the character of his team. “The mentality of the group is strong,” he said. “We have been hardened along the way and we believe that we can play against tough teams, top teams. We know the mentality of how 90 minutes works.”

Meanwhile, USA defender Steve Cherundolo has received numerous well-wishing e-mails from pleased US supporters back home. “The general public is proud of our performance and that’s something this team can be proud about and build on,” he said. “At the end of the day, results matter more than anything. No matter how you play, nobody wants a loser.”

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Slovenia in optimistic mood

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Slovenia head into their 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ campaign in optimistic mood, determined to ensure their stay at the finals is not a brief one.

The Slovenians, who are based in Johannesburg, will face Algeria in Polokwane on Sunday, a day after Group C favourites England lock horns with the USA in Rustenburg.

“We are optimistic because the players in recent games have shown good results.”

Milan Miklavic, Slovenia assistant coach

Assistant coach Milan Miklavic told RTV Slovenia: “The team looks good, the team looks very good, as always. Can we expect a positive result? We are optimistic because the players in recent games have shown good results, so we need to be optimistic.

“For all the teams, the first game will be a very big opportunity. All teams are living in some uncertainty about what will happen, and that is the special charm of championships.”

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Oblak expects rough ride

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Former Slovenia coach Branko Oblak admits his country will have a hard time advancing to the knockout stages of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Slovenia kick-off their campaign against Algeria in Polokwane on Sunday before undertaking more daunting-looking Group C encounters against England and the USA.

“I think that we have to overcome Algeria, as the other two games will be tough.”

Branko Oblak, former Slovenia coach

Oblak, who led Slovenia between 2004 and 2006, believes victory against Algeria this weekend will be a minimum requirement if they are to have any hope of reaching the Round of 16.

“We have a huge desire for victory,” said Oblak, who represented Yugoslavia 50 times in a playing career that took in spells at Schalke and Bayern Munich.

“I think that we have to overcome Algeria, as the other two games will be tough. But I hope that Slovenia will progress.”

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Koren: We have no fear

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Robert Koren has warned Slovenia’s Group C rivals they will not roll over for anyone – and has set his sights on upsetting England.

Slovenia will take on Algeria and the United States before facing England on 23 June. Few fancy Slovenia to make much noise in the group, but ex-West Bromwich Albion midfielder Koren  now a free agent - believes they can challenge for a place in the knock-out stages.

“We’re not afraid of England, we’re not afraid of anyone,” the Slovenia captain said in The Sun. “People say England will have an easy game against us but you just wait and see.

“Our display last year at Wembley, when we lost 2-1, showed what we are all about. We’re not scared, no way.”

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Ljubijankic lift for Slovenia

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek has declared Zlatan Ljubijankic fit to start his side’s FIFA World Cup™ opener against Algeria.

Ljubijankic was a minor concern with an ankle knock but Kek has given him the green light to feature in the 13 June clash. Ljubijankic’s fitness boost has left Kek happy with how the team’s preparations have gone.

“I am happy that the injury to Zlatan Ljubijankic is not a serious one and he will be fit for the opening game against the Algerians,” he said.

“There is room for progress in several departments, especially when we don’t have the upper hand, but overall I am satisfied with our build-up for the World Cup.”

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Novakovic buoyed by Slovenia win

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

Milivoje Novakovic was delighted to continue his comeback trail with a brace in Slovenia’s 3-1 win over New Zealand yesterday. The Cologne forward set his team on their way to victory in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ warm-up match with two stunning free-kicks.

And he then warned Group C opponents England, Algeria and USA that he is still not back to his best after undergoing treatment on an abdominal injury. “First of all I have to thank the medical team,” Novakovic said.

“Every day we have dealt with therapies, we really worked day and night. Thank God I’m ready for the World Cup. It is much better but not yet perfect. But there is no excuse.

“It is important that the team won. We head to South Africa proudly. Our goal is the second round, and we will try to achieve that.”

Slovenia’s Milivoje Novakovic following the 3-1 win over New Zealand

“In physical terms I may still be at reasonable levels, but these two goals and the game give us motivation for further work.

“We are once again proving that we are a collective unit. It is true that without such support, the team would not play so well. It is important that we are all healthy and unscathed after this game.

“It is important that the team won. It’s good for confidence. We head to South Africa proudly. Our goal is the second round, and we will try to achieve that.”

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Herbert upbeat despite defeat

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert remains bullish about his side’s chances at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ despite going down 3-1 to Slovenia in a warm-up match in Maribor on Friday.

Two excellent free-kicks from star Milivoje Novakovic, and a tap-in from Andraz Kirm following a goalkeeping error from Mark Paston, was enough to see off the challenge from the New Zealanders, who saw Rory Fallon drive home their solitary goal in the 20th minute.

The All Whites created several other clear-cut chances but Chris Wood fired one wide and headed another over the bar before being denied by a superb reaction save from Samir Handanovic six minutes from half-time.

New Zealand stepped things up in the second half to keep Slovenia scoreless, while both Tommy Smith and Winston Reid – who were again solid at the back alongside skipper Ryan Nelsen – were both off target with headers from set-piece plays.

“We created a hell of a lot of chances tonight which was great. On any other day we could have scored four,” said Herbert. “Two free-kicks and the keeper dropping the ball makes it hard.

“We had good periods. The thinking in the second half was to rectify it and we wanted to keep a clean sheet. We were a lot more positive in the second half.”

In the build-up to the match Herbert had indicated he would give his bench a run but in the end only one change was made with Jeremy Brockie coming on for Wood at half-time. “I just wanted to keep that consistency going,” Herbert explained. “I thought that second 45 minutes was very, very good.”

Overall Herbert felt his side’s preparations in Europe, which included a shock 1-0 win over Serbia, had gone well and would stand them in good stead for their opener against Slovakia on 15 June. “We’ve got what we’ve needed. It’s been fantastic. It’s been tough and challenging against the top sides in the world. We’ve been much more than competitive with them.

“We leave Europe with a real positive step. I think we’re all looking forward to getting to South Africa and settling in and getting going with the tournament. We know there are areas that we need to define and improve on.

“We’re not just here to make up the numbers. We want to make a difference. Tonight will certainly help us on that learning curve before we play Slovakia.”

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