Slovenia is once again flying on the wings of its fans, with selector Matjaž Kek admitting: ‘A good atmosphere at the games helps. Sometimes more than you think”
Just under 13,000 spectators watched the Slovenia-Northern Ireland qualifier on Thursday evening Euro 2024. Among them was a group of fans of the home team, who are attending Slovenia’s matches in increasing numbers and, as a result, are getting louder and louder. Matjaž Kek, Slovenia’s selector, admitted that he was very happy to see that the atmosphere in his home stadium was no longer theatrical.
“I very much agreed with those who argued that something was missing in Slovenia’s matches. Personally, I’m ‘fine’ when it smokes, when something breaks… To make it sound like the atmosphere is right. Fortunately, things are looking up in this respect,“, said the Maribor expert after the 4:2 win over the Islanders.
Matjaž Kek, who will be away in San Marino on Sunday, continued.We all want to see it grow together, to make the atmosphere even better from one game to the next. I’m sure the game against Finland will be a sell-out. It must be sold out. It’s different without loud cheering… I am also happy to see that many young people come to the games with flags, scarves and jerseys. All this should always be linked to the national team. I will always maintain that the fans are the soul of the stadium. This time there was a positive energy even when one of our players missed a pass. A year and a half, two years ago, we would have been booed by the couple of thousand spectators who went to the games… The situation in Slovenian football is not ideal. Whether we admit it or not. We feel something too. But we will do everything we can to ensure that the national team brings positive energy. It is not always easy, but we must all fight to make it better. I am very happy to see that the atmosphere is getting better every game. It helps. Sometimes more than you think.”
Slovenia will also have support from the stands in the pocket country on the Apennine peninsula, with around 100 members of the newly-formed national team fan group expected to cheer on Kek’s squad in Serravalle United Supporters of Slovenia
.
This text was automatically translated using AI.