Can Josip Iličić still hope for Euro 2024? Matjaž Kek has his chosen circle of players, but he doesn’t want to close the door to Germany for anyone
Photo: YouTube (NK Maribor) - screenshot
Let’s be honest: when Josip Iličić signed for Maribor, many were convinced that the Gorenjec would shine in the purple jersey. There was a general belief that the Prva liga Telemach was too small a stage for him, but the former Serie A star returned home too battered and bruised for that to be the case. But what if it were different… Would Josip Iličić have played in the Euro 2024? Who knows. It now seems like the last train to Germany has departed for him, but regardless, neither Matjaž Kek nor anyone else has entirely convinced him. The national team coach doesn’t want to shut the door to the European Championship for anyone prematurely.
Matjaž Kek: “In the Slovenian League or Malaysia”
“Slovenia cannot afford to lose track of anyone who has the quality and, above all, the desire to play for the Slovenian national team. We are losing certain players too quickly. I could name ten who are now in their ideal years, yet we declare them old when they approach their thirties. We? You, the media. In such a small base, it’s a problem. I won’t mention names here; you dig them out. Having someone excluded just because they are 33, 34, or 35 years old but play at a level that meets the criteria is pointless. But I can’t force anyone,” explained Matjaž Kek in an interview with Večer in his usual style.
Kek didn’t want to speak about specific names but continued: “Some have very serious reasons that are also related to something other than just football. I don’t dare delve into individuals’ private problems. For me, every player, whether playing in the Slovenian League or somewhere in Malaysia, is part of my thinking. In our coaching staff, we have a precise way of monitoring everyone. There are certain standards, but it’s crazy for our base not to call up a player from the Bundesliga or the Slovenian league for some reason.”
Despite everything, Matjaž Kek admitted that there isn’t a need for excessive rotations within the national team squad. However, he expects certain players to perform at a higher level than they
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
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