We already have the two countries on the grass! The national anthems are playing now! This is about to start! Are you going to miss it?
The referee Sandro Schärer, assisted on the wings by his compatriots Stephane De Almeida and Bekim Zogaj and with the Lithuanian Donatas Rumšas as the fourth referee, will be in charge of dispensing justice. The Swiss has been an international referee since 2015. He will be assisted in the VAR by Fedayi San.
In office since he took the reins in the summer of 2020, Kasper Hjulmand faces his second participation in a European Championship after reaching the semifinals in the 2020 edition. It is his third consecutive participation in a major tournament after Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. , something only available to Sepp Piontek (Euro 1984, World Cup 1986 and Euro 1988) throughout Denmark’s history.
At the head of his second stage, Matjaz Kek’s cycle with Slovenia seeks to do a good job in what is his country’s first participation in a final phase of the Euro Cup two decades later. The one from Maribor was in charge of qualifying the ‘Fantje’ in 2010 for their second World Cup in history, remaining just one point away from achieving a ticket for the knockout phase in a group where they were surpassed by the United States and England.
With seven goals in eight games, Rasmus Hojlund has appeared in the top-5 of top scorers during the European qualifying phase, only surpassed by Romelu Lukaku (14), Cristiano Ronaldo (10), Kylian Mbappé (9) and Harry Kane (8 ). The Manchester United striker.
At 21 years old, Benjamin Sesko is one of the hopes of the Central European team along with Jan Oblak for this final phase of the Euro Cup. The RB Leipzig striker, who had not yet been born (May 2003) in his country’s last participation in a European Nations Championship (Belgium and the Netherlands 2000), has scored 18 goals in 42 games in what has been his first season in Germany after shining with RB Salzburg.
The Slovenians have not won against the Danes after six previous meetings in all competitions, also reaping five defeats and a single draw.
Both teams were paired in the qualifying phase, adding the same points (22) in Group H of the European Qualification. The ‘red dynamite’ reaped four points out of a possible six against the Central European country.
Denmark faces its tenth participation in a Euro Cup, the second in a row after failing to qualify at France 2016 and after shining in the 2020 edition, reaching the semifinals. In that sense, it has only been absent from two of the last eleven editions.
Two decades have passed since Slovenia’s first, only and last participation in a European Championship, making its debut in Belgium and Netherlands 2000 and finishing bottom of Group C. It is the fourth major international tournament for the ‘Fantje’ in their history.
ERIKSEN LEADS DENMARK!!!! Kasper Hjulmand recovers the Manchester United midfielder after resting against Norway in the last preparatory friendly, reinforcing the spearhead by fielding Jonas Wind as a companion to Rasmus Hojlund. The three-center defense, made up of Andersen, Christensen and Vestergaard, is untouchable.
DRKUSIC ENTERS THE DEFENSIVE LINE!!!! Matjaz Kek makes up to two changes compared to the last friendly against Bulgaria, sacrificing Brekalo in defense to opt for the PFC Sochi centre-back. He also tweaks the midfield, setting up Tomi Horvat to bring in Petar Stojanovic.
For his part, Kasper Hjulmand will start with the following eleven players (5-3-2): Kasper Schmeichel – Alexander Bah, Joachim Andersen, Andreas Christensen, Jannik Vestergaard, Victor Kristiansen – Morten Hjulmand, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Christian Eriksen – Jonas Wind and Rasmus Hojlund.
We already have the starting elevens confirmed!! Matjaz Kek puts the following lineup into play (4-3-3): Jan Oblak – Zan Karnicnik, Vanja Drkusic, Jaka Bijol, Erik Janza – Petar Stojanovic, Adam Gnezda Ceri, Timi Max Elsnik – Andraz Sporar, Benjamin Sesko and Jan Mlakar .
The Scandinavian team sealed its ticket to Germany by leading its qualifying group with 22 points out of a possible 30, qualifying for the Euro Cup as first in the group stage for the first time since its participation in the 2012 edition. Its preparation for the European tournament has been faced with neighborhood derbies against neighboring countries, beating Sweden (2-1) and Norway (3-1) in the last window of international commitments.
Lights and shadows in a Denmark that has proven to be capable of the best and the worst at the same time, surprising all of Europe with an unexpected semifinals in the Euro 2020 and at the same time failing in Qatar 2022, finishing last in Group D of the World Cup, adding only one point out of nine possible against France, Australia and Tunisia.
The 22 points achieved in Group H of the European Qualification represent a personal milestone for the Central European team in a qualifying phase for a major tournament, allowing them to confirm their presence in a European Championship for the first time after their previous and only participation in a championship. European (Belgium and Netherlands 2000). Their preparation for their return to the tournament has done so by beating Armenia (2-1) and drawing with Bulgaria (1-1), showing that they still have a lot to improve in the defensive phase.
Slovenia appears in Germany to participate in a competition of nations that has eluded it over the last two decades. The 24 years of difference between their first and only presence in a Euro Cup (Belgium and Netherlands 2000) until today are the second largest historical interval between one edition and another, only surpassed by the 44 that Hungary dragged between Belgium 1972 and France 2016.
The Stuttgart Arena, with a capacity of more than 50,000 spectators, kicks off Group C with the duel between two teams that want to make it very difficult for Serbia and England for a ticket to the knockout phase.
Good afternoon everybody!! Welcome to the broadcast of this match between the Slovenia football team and the Denmark football team, corresponding to the first day of Group C of UEFA Euro 2024. We start with the preview of the match (6:00 p.m.)!
