The Slovenians face Portugal with a great deal of respect for Cristiano Ronaldo, but at the same time, they rely on support in the sold-out Stožice Stadium
![The Slovenians face Portugal with a great deal of respect for Cristiano Ronaldo, but at the same time, they rely on support in the sold-out Stožice Stadium](https://footballplanet.si/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sporar-Elsnik.png)
Photo: Vid Ponikvar / Sportida
Slovenian national team continues its preparations at the National Football Centre in Brdo pri Kranju after returning from Malta, where all thoughts are now focused on the Tuesday spectacle when Portugal will visit the packed Stožice Stadium.
Andraž Šporar, who climbed to eighth place on the all-time goalscorers list of the Slovenian national football team with a goal in Thursday’s match, shared his thoughts ahead of the eagerly awaited encounter. “The feeling is good,” says Šporar, who is aware that the team must not repeat the mistakes from the previous match. “We analyzed the game against Malta, saw what went wrong, and we realize that we cannot afford to perform like that against Portugal, as we will be quickly punished. I am confident that Slovenia will show its true face and that we will do everything in front of the packed Stožice to ensure that the fans leave the stadium satisfied.”
![Slovenija](https://planetnogomet.si/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Slovenija.png)
The popular Špoki doesn’t hide that the match against Portugal will be challenging. “It will be very difficult to withstand Portugal without conceding a goal, so we need to capitalize on every opportunity that comes our way in attack. We must stay compact, go a hundred percent into duels. We are on home turf and we must show them too that we want to win. In this case, anything is possible,” reflects Šporar, who feels a great deal of respect for the Portuguese players, especially for the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He has been playing at the top level for twenty years. It’s incredible the numbers he achieves. We can only shake his hand, congratulate him, and enjoy his era. But of course, it would be wonderful to beat him at home,” says the honest Panathinaikos striker. While Timi Max Elšnik in an interview with us wasn’t sure who would try to swap shirts with the greatest number seven of all time, Šporar hopes for a slightly different outcome: “If we win, he probably won’t want to swap shirts with anyone. Let it turn out that way.”
![Šporar Slovenia Denmark](https://planetnogomet.si/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/sporar-slovenija-danska.jpg)
A touch of mischief, but still a lot of respect for Ronaldo is also shown by Jaka Bijol. “I think I’m faster, but he’s still doing great at his age. All credit to him for taking care of everything; he could be an example to everyone. I am sure he will play for several more years,” says the Udinese player, adding that the upcoming match will remain in his memory forever.
Bijol, like Šporar, expresses great joy at the thought of a packed Stožice. “There is increasingly more support at the matches, and that gives us extra energy. It’s always nice to see that the match is sold out. I think it would be the same even if we weren’t playing against Portugal,” he cheers up the fans, the pillar of the Slovenian defense, who is increasing his readiness ahead of the upcoming Euro after his injury. “I still have to be careful not to overdo it, as these are the first matches after several months. Consequently, the form is not at its peak yet, but everything is going according to plan. Important matches lie ahead, both in the national team and in the club, and it’s important for us to stay smart.”
This text was automatically translated using AI.
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