Slovenia hosts Austria: Matjaž Kek selected 11 footballers who will start the first match after the end of Euro 2024, Jan Oblak only on the bench
Photo: Matic Klanšek Velej / Sportida
Slovenia will kick off their UEFA Nations League campaign against Austria tonight at 20:45 in a packed Stozice Stadium. This match marks the beginning of Slovenia’s journey in the Nations League and is their first game after the historic Euro 2024. The Nations League serves as a prelude to the next major tournament, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Just over an hour before the game in Ljubljana, the starting eleven for Slovenia has been announced.
A key development is that Jan Oblak, still recovering from illness, will not be fit to start in goal, although he is on the bench. Instead, Matevž Vidovšek, who has been performing exceptionally well for Olimpija this season, will be in goal. In Oblak’s absence, Jaka Bijol will serve as the captain.
Coach Matjaž Kek has had to adjust his defense with the absence of the injured Žan Karničnik. Interestingly, Kek has opted for three central defenders. Alongside Bijol and Vanja Drkušić, David Brekalo will start as the right-back. Erik Janža will play on the left side of defense. The rest of the lineup remains as expected, with the additional note that Jan Mlakar is on the bench, facing his former team, Austria. Starting alongside him is Sandi Lovrić.
Slovenia’s Starting Eleven: Vidovšek, Brekalo, Drkušić, Bijol, Janža, Stojanović, Gnezda Čerin, Elšnik, Lovrić, Šporar, Šeško. Austria’s Starting Eleven: Pentz, Mwene, Posch, Wöber, Prass, Seiwald, Laimer, Schmid, Sabitzer, Wimmer, Arnautović.
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet
National Team
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