Slovenia vs Denmark Preview & Prediction | UEFA EURO 2024 | Group Stage
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These two sides faced off against each other twice in UEFA European Championship qualifying and they now kick off their UEFA EURO 2024 group stage campaign against each other.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 16th June, 2024 - UK – 5:00pm / US EST – 12:00pm / US PST – 10:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – ITV / US – FOX
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – ITVX / US – VIX
SLOVENIA PREVIEW: BACK AT THE EUROS
The return of Josip Ilicic, who has spent the last couple of years dealing with depression after leaving Atalanta, has dominated the headlines and his fairytale comeback was capped by scoring a 63rd minute winner off the bench to defeat Armenia by two goals to one in a recent warm-up friendly at the Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana.
Slovenia have one of the weaker squads on paper at UEFA EURO 2024 but do have genuine quality peppered throughout with the aforementioned Ilicic in attack and one of the world’s best goalkeepers Jan Oblak as their captain. Their 2-0 defeat of Portugal in March should be a warning sign for those in their group.
DENMARK PREVIEW: RE-IGNITING THEIR EURO FORM
In 2021, Denmark’s UEFA EURO 2020 campaign was frankly remarkable. Under the management of Kasper Hjulmand, the Danes were forced to finish their opening game against Finland despite Christian Eriksen’s first-half cardiac arrest. Denmark, quite emotionally, went on a run all the way to the semi-finals and Eriksen is back in their number ten shirt for this tournament.
They have, though, most definitely fallen off in that time. Their qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup was excellent but they followed that up with a very poor showing at the tournament, going out in the groups behind France and Australia. Three victories on the bounce against Nordic nations Faroe Islands, Sweden and Norway is how they come into this summer.
SLOVENIA TEAM NEWS: AN OLD FASHIONED 4-4-2
Matjaz Kek leads a Slovenian side that will play a classic 4-4-2 system. The emotional return of Josip Ilicic adds a super sub to Slovenia's squad but the former Atalanta man is unlikely to start with Andraz Sporar and Benjamin Sesko forming a partnership. Sandi Lovric is a doubt after a recent injury scare but is a key man so a risk may be taken. Miha Blazic and Benjamin Verbic are also major doubts.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Karnicik, Blazic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik, Lovric; Sporar, Sesko
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Blazic (Injured), Stojanovic (Injured), Lovric (Injured), Verbic (Injured)
DENMARK TEAM NEWS: THE DANISH DONS
Simon Kjaer was one of the best players at UEFA EURO 2020 and remains the Denmark captain but the AC Milan centre-back has been struggling with injury throughout the campaign. He will likely start on the bench with Joachim Andersen, Andreas Christensen and Jannik Vestergaard likely to start.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Bah, Hjulmand, Hojbjerg, Maehle; Eriksen; Wind, Hojlund
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
KEY STATS
- This is Slovenia’s second EURO appearance. 24 years after their previous participation at EURO 2000.
- Slovenia are aiming to record their first EURO victory having drawn against Yugoslavia and Norway and lost against Spain at the finals in 2000.
- Slovenia have lost only two of their last 14 competitive matches (W8 D4).
- The youngest coach in a EURO match is Srečko Katanec 36yrs 333d (Slovenia 3-3 Yugoslavia, EURO 2000).
- Slovenia have scored in the first half in each of their last seven competitive matches.
- This is Denmark’s tenth EURO appearance.
- Denmark have won five and drawn one of their previous six matches against Slovenia.
- Only two of Denmark’s last 14 EURO group stage matches have finished level.
- Only two of Denmark’s previous 33 EURO matches have finished without a goal being scored (vs Italy 2004 GS and vs England 1992 GS).
- Denmark have won their opening match in only one of their previous nine EURO appearances (D3 L5). The only success was a 1-0 win against the Netherlands in 2012.
- Denmark have scored the first goal in their last five EURO matches.
SLOVENIA VS DENMARK PREDICTION
Group C is perhaps a lot more competitive than many have given it credit for and this one is another example of that as Slovenia take on Denmark on the back of finishing level on points in the top two of Group H of UEFA European Championship qualifying. They are two evenly matched sides that will both head into the tournament looking to be solid and hope for moments of quality in attack. Denmark perhaps have the better personnel but have shown themselves to be frustrating to watch a lot of the time. A low-scoring encounter to kick off the respective campaigns seems likely.
SLOVENIA VS DENMARK TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
