Olimpija defender Marcel Ratnik is not hiding his pride after Slovenia’s breakthrough at Euro U21: “A memory that will last a lifetime!”
Photo: Nik Moder / Sportida
On Tuesday, it was officially confirmed that Slovenia will compete in the U21 European Championship next summer in Slovakia. Under the guidance of coach Milenko Aćimović, the team finished first in a challenging group alongside France and Austria, both known for their strong youth development programs. Marcel Ratnik, one of the key players of the national team, described this achievement as a historic milestone. Indeed, Slovenia has reached this stage for the first time in this age category.
“We achieved a historic result! In a very tough group, we came out on top, likely surprising many, but I believe the final standings reflect our true capabilities. Throughout the qualifiers, my teammates and I showed our true selves, full of desire and energy,” Ratnik said on the club’s website.
The player from Ljubljana’s Olimpija added: “We fought proudly for the national badge from start to finish, and here is the reward. We are heading to the European Championship as the first generation to qualify through the qualifiers. This is a memory that will last a lifetime. Against France and Austria, we proved we can compete, and with this mindset, we will head to the Euro next year.”
Slovenia will learn its opponents for the final tournament on December 3, when the European Football Association (UEFA) organizes the group draw for the championship of the continent’s most talented young footballers in Bratislava.
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet