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Slovenia at the UEFA European Championship

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The Slovenia national football team have appeared at the UEFA European Championship twice, in 2000 and 2024.

During the 2000 qualifiers, Slovenia finished second in their group, behind Norway but ahead of Greece, Latvia, Albania and Georgia. In the play-offs, they defeated Ukraine 3–2 on aggregate to qualify for their first major tournament. At the finals, held in Belgium and the Netherlands, Slovenia were drawn into Group C together with Spain, Yugoslavia and Norway. In their inaugural match, Slovenia were leading 3–0 against Yugoslavia, but the match ended in a 3–3 draw. In the second match, Slovenia narrowly lost to Spain. Their last game against Norway ended in a goalless draw, leaving Slovenia bottom of their group with two points. Zlatko Zahovič was one of the country's key players, scoring three of the team's four goals in the tournament.

Slovenia would not qualify for the tournament again for another 24 years, until finally doing so in 2024; during the qualifiers, they finished second in their group, behind Denmark but ahead of Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino. At the final tournament, Slovenia advanced to the knockout stage after drawing all three matches in their group, before being eliminated in the last 16 on penalties by Portugal.

Overall record

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UEFA European Championship record Qualification record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pos. Pld W D L GF GA
1960 to 1992 Part of  Yugoslavia Part of  Yugoslavia
England 1996 Did not qualify 5th 10 3 2 5 13 13
Belgium Netherlands 2000 Group stage 3 0 2 1 4 5 Squad 2nd (PO) 12 6 3 3 15 16
Portugal 2004 Did not qualify 2nd (PO) 10 4 3 3 16 14
Austria Switzerland 2008 6th 12 3 2 7 9 16
Poland Ukraine 2012 4th 10 4 2 4 11 7
France 2016 3rd (PO) 12 5 2 5 19 14
Europe 2020 4th 10 4 2 4 16 11
Germany 2024 Round of 16 4 0 4 0 2 2 Squad 2nd 10 7 1 2 20 9
United Kingdom Republic of Ireland 2028 To be determined To be determined
Italy Turkey 2032
Total Round of 16 7 0 6 1 6 7 — 2/8 86 36 17 33 119 100

Euro 2000

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Main article: UEFA Euro 2000

Group stage

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Main article: UEFA Euro 2000 Group C

In their first major tournament match, Slovenia stunned FR Yugoslavia and took a 3–0 lead after one hour of play, with Zlatko Zahovič scoring twice and Miran Pavlin once. After Siniša Mihajlović's red card, it seemed that the team would win the first match, but then, despite being down to ten players, Yugoslavia made a comeback as they scored three goals in the span of six minutes.[1] In the second game, Spain took the 1–0 lead quickly as Raúl scored in the fourth minute. Slovenia equalised after one hour of play as Zahovič scored his third goal of the tournament. Only one minute later, Spain took the lead again as Joseba Etxeberria scored the game-winning goal. Around 10,000 Slovenian fans gathered at the Amsterdam Arena, which was, at the time, the record for the number of Slovenian spectators at a football match outside Slovenia, until the record was broken 24 years later at Euro 2024.[2][3] In the last round of the group stage, Slovenia played against Norway and still had a chance to advance to the quarter-finals. However, the match ended in a goalless draw and Slovenia won its second point of the tournament, but was still eliminated.

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Spain 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  FR Yugoslavia 3 1 1 1 7 7 0 4[a]
3  Norway 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4[a]
4  Slovenia 3 0 2 1 4 5 −1 2
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head result: Norway 0–1 FR Yugoslavia.
FR Yugoslavia 3–3 Slovenia
 Report
Attendance: 18,500
Slovenia 1–2 Spain
 Report
Attendance: 51,300
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
Slovenia 0–0 Norway
Report
Attendance: 21,000
Referee: Graham Poll (England)

Euro 2024

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Main article: UEFA Euro 2024

Group stage

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Main article: UEFA Euro 2024 Group C

24 years after their first European Championship appearance, Slovenia qualified for Euro 2024 by finishing second in their qualifying group.[4][5] Led by manager Matjaž Kek, who previously led the national team in its last major tournament appearance (2010 World Cup), Slovenia was drawn into a group with England, Denmark and Serbia.[6] In the opening game against Denmark, Slovenia drew 1–1 after Erik Janža cancelled Christian Eriksen's first-half strike.[7] In the second match, a repeat of the match from Euro 2000, Slovenia played Serbia and came close to its first-ever victory at the European Championship. Žan Karničnik opened the score after 69 minutes, but Luka Jović scored a 95th-minute equaliser as Serbia grabbed a last-gasp draw.[8] The match at Allianz Arena was attended by a record 20,170 Slovenian fans, which is the largest number of Slovenian fans at any football match outside Slovenia.[9] In the last match of the group stage, Slovenia and England contested a goalless draw. Despite finishing third in the group behind Denmark because of disciplinary points,[10] Slovenia advanced to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time in history as one of the best third-place teams.[11]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  England 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  Denmark 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3[a]
3  Slovenia 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3[a]
4  Serbia 3 0 2 1 1 2 −1 2
Source: UEFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head result (Slovenia 1–1 Denmark), overall goal difference and overall goals scored. Disciplinary points: Denmark −6, Slovenia −7.[12][13]
Slovenia 1–1 Denmark
 Report
Attendance: 54,000[14]
Slovenia 1–1 Serbia
 Report
Attendance: 63,028[15]
England 0–0 Slovenia
Report
Attendance: 41,536[16]

Knockout stage

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Main article: UEFA Euro 2024 knockout stage

In the round of 16, Slovenia faced Portugal, the winner of Group F.[17] The two sides previously met in a friendly match just three months before the European Championship, where Slovenia won 2–0.[18] The match went to extra time after a goalless draw in the regular time. In the last seconds of the first-half in extra time, Slovenian captain Jan Oblak saved Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty kick and the match ended 0–0 after 120 minutes. However, in the penalty shoot-out, Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved all three penalties as Portugal won 3–0 and advanced to the quarter-finals.[19]

Round of 16
Portugal 0–0 (a.e.t.) Slovenia
Report
Penalties
 3–0
Attendance: 46,576[20]

Player records

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Goalscorers

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Four Slovenian players have scored at least one goal at the UEFA European Championship final tournament.[21]

Rank Player Goals Years
1 Zlatko Zahovič 3 2000
2 Erik Janža 1 2024
Žan Karničnik 2024
Miran Pavlin 2000

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Plestenjak, Rok (29 January 2017). "Najbolj infarktna tekma v zgodovini Slovenije" (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  2. ^ Golob, Aleš (18 June 2020). "Video: 20 let od nepozabnega rajanja slovenskih navijačev v Amsterdamu" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Danes je dan za zgodovinsko navijaško romanje! Noro, koliko Slovencev bo v Nemčiji!". Ekipa24.si (in Slovenian). 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Slovenija po 24 letih znova na evropskem prvenstvu!" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Slovenia qualify for Euro 2024 after victory over Kazakhstan". Reuters. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  6. ^ Plestenjak, Rok (2 December 2023). "Noro, kakšen žreb desetletja za Slovenijo" (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Slovenia 1–1 Denmark: Janza salvages share of the spoils in Group C opener". beIN SPORTS. 16 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  8. ^ Smith, Emma (20 June 2024). "Slovenia 1–1 Serbia LIVE: Euro 2024 football score, report and updates". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  9. ^ Dajčman, Miha (22 June 2024). "(REPORTAŽA Z EURA) Navijaška Slovenija: Športna evforija združi razdeljeni narod, skupnih barv pa še nismo izbrali". Večer (in Slovenian). Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  10. ^ Andrews, Connor (26 June 2024). "Denmark officially finished ahead of Slovenia due to bizarre unknown rule". talkSPORT. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  11. ^ Golob, Aleš (26 June 2024). "Kek: Za številne popolni avtsajderji so opravili izpit" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Who made it through from the EURO 2024 groups". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024. Denmark are through to the round of 16 as group runners-up (finishing ahead of Slovenia on disciplinary points).
  13. ^ "European Championship 2024: Booking List before Round of 16" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Full Time Report – Slovenia v Denmark" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Full Time Report – Slovenia v Serbia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Full Time Report – England v Slovenia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Dramatičen razplet v skupini F Sloveniji namenil Portugalce v osmini finala". 24ur.com (in Slovenian). 26 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  18. ^ A. G. (27 June 2024). ""Če bo kdo živel od tistih marčevskih 2:0, bomo v velikih težavah"" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  19. ^ T. O. (1 July 2024). "120 minut so živele slovenske sanje, kruto jih je razcefral Diogo Costa" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Full Time Report – Portugal v Slovenia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Slovenia: All their EURO records and stats". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
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