In the early hours of June 26th, Slovenia faced England, the strongest team on paper in Group C, in the final match of the group stage. The two sides battled for 90 minutes, ending in a 0-0 draw. However, for Slovenia, this was a historic moment, as they secured third place in the group, earning a spot in the knockout stage, marking their first-ever appearance in the knockout stages of a major continental tournament.
Prior to the match, the situation in Group C was unclear. Only England had secured qualification with 4 points. Slovenia, Denmark, and Serbia all had a chance to advance.
Against England, a team worth €1.52 billion, boasting stars like Bellingham, Foden, Saka, Kane, and Rice, Slovenia played incredibly tough. Their defense, led by Oblak, was impenetrable, forcing England to generate only 12 shots, 4 of which were on target, but most of them lacked any real threat.
Despite having only 26% of the possession, Slovenia held on to a 0-0 draw, securing their third consecutive draw in the tournament. Although they failed to secure their first-ever European Championship victory, the team celebrated wildly. Why, you might ask?
Following the match, Slovenia had accumulated 3 points with a goal difference of 0. With equal points, Slovenia surpassed Hungary, the third-place team in Group A, and Croatia, the third-place team in Group B, ensuring their place among the four best third-place teams, securing their spot in the knockout stage. Many fans have remarked that Slovenia reminds them of Portugal in 2016, as they also secured a place in the knockout stage after three draws in the group stage. Of course, it is unlikely that Slovenia will replicate Ronaldo’s feat, as their strength simply doesn’t compare, and winning the tournament is a far-fetched dream.
Even though Slovenia is seen as an easy target in the knockout stages, they still have reason to celebrate. In 2000, Slovenia made its first appearance in the European Championship, finishing bottom of the group with one draw and two losses. They then participated in the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, but failed to escape the group stage.
Today, however, Slovenia finally broke through the barriers, ending a 24-year wait and establishing three records. First, they successfully navigated the group stage, qualifying for the knockout stage of a major continental tournament for the first time. Second, this is the first time Slovenia has reached the knockout stage of the European Championship. Third, Slovenia achieved a place in the knockout stage without winning a single match in the European Championship.
As the saying goes, “One man’s joy is another man’s sorrow.” As Slovenia advances to the knockout stage, it also signifies the elimination of Croatia, and 39-year-old Luka Modrić’s hopes for a miracle were dashed.
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