In Stožice, a spectacle unfolds, with hopes that people won’t forget that Slovenia plays: Kek’s team ready to face the hottest team in the world.
Photo: Grega Valančič / Sportida
Once AC Milan arrived, then the best club in the world, once Italy arrived too, then the world runner-up. Also, Jose Mourinho arrived, not to mention all those brought to Maribor by the Champions League. Slovenia has experienced countless football spectacles in the past, and now another one is on the doorstep.
But this won’t just be a spectacle; it seems it will also be a hysterical encounter of fans with an exceptional footballer, albeit one who will be wearing the opposite team’s jersey this time. And somehow, it seems that this has been somewhat forgotten these days. “Let’s go for Ronaldo, let’s go for Portugal,” is heard everywhere. Some – and there were quite a few – even went so far as to wait at Brnik just to catch a glimpse of CR for a split second. Of course, they didn’t… In short, there will be a spectacle at Stožice Stadium, but in the minds of those for whom Slovenian football (!) means everything, there is also hope that people won’t forget that Slovenia is playing too! That Slovenia that qualified for Euro 2024.
Matjaž Kek, the coach of Slovenia, couldn’t avoid questions about Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the match against the team with a streak of 11 consecutive wins. He spoke respectfully but not too extensively about him. It seems that even the Maribor native is slightly irritated by all the fuss surrounding the opponent. In other times, of course, the opponent would have been received differently. Not with a lineup in front of the hotel, but with a wake-up call in the middle of the night. But that’s just how it is. People have their heroes, their champions, their idols. It would be nice if, because of them, they wouldn’t so easily forget their own boys. Those because of whom thousands and thousands of Slovenians will flock to Germany this summer.
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Anyway, the Združeni navijači Slovenije are ready, there is no doubt they will ensure that the Portuguese don’t feel too comfortable on the new pitch surface at Stožice. Matjaž Kek has surely done everything in his power to make Slovenia better than they were in Malta. They had a bad day there, but it’s already a known fact that Slovenia always plays better against better teams. Because then they play differently. In a style that suits them better, to be honest.
In any case, Slovenia will undoubtedly suffer. Portugal is currently a machine that demolishes everything in its path. 11 consecutive wins and over 40 goals scored. National teams fall like dominoes before the might of Ronaldo and his compatriots. But every streak has an end. Who knows, maybe the Portuguese one will end in Ljubljana. Even bigger teams have fallen on Slovenian soil. In any case, tonight – the match will kick off at 20:45 – is a very good test for Slovenia. A test that will be an excellent approximation of what will follow in the summer. The elite is the elite, and the elite, above all, doesn’t forgive mistakes.
So let the spectacle begin. And don’t forget: today Slovenia plays! 🇸🇮
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
National Team
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