And finally it’s here! The European Football Championship has begun in Germany. This marks Slovenia’s second-ever qualification for the European Championship. We are in group C, which means we will play against Denmark, England and Serbia. Slovenian fans are already full of energy, enthusiastic and ready for exciting, tense matches, and proud of our representatives. There will be outdoor screenings of football games and most bars will be showing them as well.
Football is number one sport in Slovenia so it is such a special event and time for Slovenes!
Slovenia has achieved some significant successes on the international stage in recent years, but in the last European Championship, they did not advance past the group stage. Nevertheless, expectations are high this time around, as experts, fans, and betting agencies consider Slovenia among the potential surprises of the tournament. The first goal often mentioned by our players is to advance from the group, which is considered one of the tougher ones in the entire tournament. The top two teams from each group are guaranteed to advance to the knockout stages, and an additional four best third-placed teams will also qualify. If Slovenia makes it to the knockout stages, their further opponents will depend on their final group placement.
There are three possible scenarios for the results of the Slovenian national team
First Scenario – Slovenia wins the group
If Slovenia wins the group, they will play against one of the third-placed teams from groups A, D, E, or F, with the match taking place on June 30th in Cologne.
Second Scenario – Slovenia advances as the runner-up
If Slovenia finishes second in their group, they will play against the second-placed team from group A, which is the most predictable scenario based on the draw. The match would be played on June 29th in Berlin. Group A consists of Germany, Scotland, Hungary, and Switzerland.
Third Scenario – Slovenia advances as the third-placed team
If Slovenia finishes third in their group but is better than at least two other third-placed teams, they will also qualify for the round of 16. Their opponent will be the winner of group E or F. In the first case, the match would be on July 2nd in Munich, and in the second case, a day earlier in Frankfurt. Group E includes Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine. Group F includes Turkey, Czech Republic, Georgia, and Portugal.
Here is the list of the Slovenian national football team squad for Euro 2024
Goalkeepers:
- Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
- Vid Belec (Apoel)
- Igor Vekić (Vejle)
Defenders:
- Jure Balkovec (Alanyaspor)
- Jaka Bijol (Udinese)
- Miha Blažič (Lech Poznanj)
- David Brekalo (Orlando City)
- Vanja Drkušić (Soči)
- Erik Janža (Gornik Zabrze)
- Žan Karničnik (Celje)
- Petar Stojanović (Empoli)
Midfielders:
- Timi Max Elšnik (Olimpija)
- Adam Gnezda-Čerin (Panathinaikos)
- Jon Gorenc Stanković (Sturm)
- Tomi Horvat (Sturm)
- Jasmin Kurtić (Südtirol)
- Sandi Lovrić (Udinese)
- Benjamin Verbič (Panathinaikos)
- Adrian Zeljković (Spartak Trnava)
- Nino Žugelj (Bodo/Glimt)
Forwards:
- Žan Celar (Lugano)
- Josip Iličić (Maribor)
- Jan Mlakar (Pisa)
- Benjamin Šeško (Leipzig)
- Andraž Šporar (Panathinaikos)
- Žan Vipotnik (Bordeaux)
Current Challenges and Future
The Slovenian national football team is currently facing the challenge of rediscovering success at the European Championship. Despite not qualifying for the tournament in recent years, the team possesses considerable potential. Under the leadership of coaches like Matjaž Kek and previously Tomaž Kavčič, Slovenia has sought to introduce young talents and build a team capable of competing at the highest level.
Currently, the Slovenian team relies on experienced players such as Jan Oblak, Miha Zajc, and Benjamin Verbič, alongside promising young talents emerging from both domestic clubs and abroad. Efforts to improve infrastructure and develop young players provide hope that Slovenia will again qualify for major tournaments in the future.
Where to Watch Euro 2024 Matches?
Watching football matches, especially major tournaments like the European Championship, is a popular activity among fans worldwide. In Slovenia, there are several ways you can watch the matches.
Television:
The rights to broadcast all 51 Euro 2024 matches are secured by the Sportklub channel. Additionally, the national television RTV Slovenija will also broadcast Euro 2024, making it accessible to those who are not subscribed to the Sportklub channel.
Online Streaming:
RTV Slovenija website and app: RTV Slovenija often offers live streaming through its website or mobile app. This is an excellent option for those who want to watch matches on the go or do not have access to a television.
Sports Cafes and Bars:
Numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants throughout Slovenia will be showing the Euro 2024 matches, especially when Slovenia is playing. We currently do not have a list, but stay tuned as we will soon publish the names of bars and other locations where the matches will be broadcast.
Public Viewings:
You will be able to watch the Euro 2024 matches in Ljubljana at Pogačar Square. Typically, this square hosts the “Odprta kuhna” (Open Kitchen) event every Friday. However, during the European Football Championship, this event will move slightly to Stritarjeva Street and Mestni trg (City Square).
“This Friday, we are moving to Stritarjeva Street and Mestni trg. There are few loves that can compare to the love for football, especially when our boys qualify for the European Championship. Therefore, on June 14th, we will graciously yield our usual location, Pogačar Square, to sports enthusiasts and all of you culinary enthusiasts, inviting you to take a few steps further to Stritarjeva Street and Mestni trg,” wrote the organizers.
Stay tuned to our website where we will announce more public viewing locations. If Slovenia manages to advance, the excitement will be even greater, and there will be even more locations to watch the matches.
Sports Streaming Websites and Apps:
Online platforms like DAZN, ESPN+, and others offer sports event streaming. However, please check beforehand if they are available in Slovenia and if they include coverage of the European Championship.
Record Number of Fans
Radenko Mijatović, President of the Football Association of Slovenia (NZS), anticipates excellent organization and a large turnout of Slovenian fans ahead of the European Championship in Germany. “I believe we will break the record from Amsterdam,” he told STA, recalling the match from Euro 2000, still regarded as the event with the highest attendance of Slovenian football fans abroad.
On June 18, 2000, nearly 10,000 Slovenian fans flooded Amsterdam for the group stage match between Slovenia and Spain. The final score was 2:1 in favor of Spain, but the match entered Slovenian football history due to the massive influx of Slovenian fans.
Prize Fund
UEFA has increased the prize pool for the European Championship by 23% compared to the previous edition, totaling 371 million euros. All participating teams receive a guaranteed 9.25 million euros. Each win in the group stage earns 1.5 million euros, while a draw awards 750 thousand euros.
Qualifying for the Round of 16 is worth 2 million euros, reaching the quarterfinals brings 3.25 million euros, making it to the semifinals earns 5 million euros. The runners-up in the final receive 7 million euros, while the winners will take home 10 million euros. European champions can thus earn a total of 34 million euros. The prizes are typically distributed with 60% going to the association and 40% to the players and coaching staff.
