The Group C draws of the 2024 European championships held in Hamburg pitted England, Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia in group C. Slovenia and Denmark participated in the same qualification group ahead of the tournament. Still, their split into different pots ahead of the draws opened up the slim possibility of both sides being in the same group.
Denmark was on the wrong end of a penalty misfortune against England in the semi-finals of Euro 2020. The Danes had a surreal outing, making the semi-finals. At the same time, Mikkel Damsgaard's stunning free-kick that went past Jordan Pickford was the first time Southgate's side had fallen behind in the competition. Yet, England rallied to prevail 2-1, with Harry Kane reconverting the rebound of his own missed penalty to secure a place in the final. Slovenia were not involved in the competition and are preparing for their second appearance at the European Championships this century.
Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund ended the qualification with 7 goals in just 6 starts, a tally only bettered by 4 players {Romelu Lukaku (14), Cristiano Ronaldo (10), Kylian Mbappe (9) and Harry Kane (8)} and will undoubtedly be at the fore of the Danish Dynamites plan ahead of the tournament.
Slovenia has featured in 4 major tournaments but has yet to progress to the knockout rounds. In 2010, they won their first major tournament, defeating Algeria 1-0. They have had inspiring results, such as defeating Italy 1-0 in 2004 and attaining a 7-0 win over Oman in 1999.
Their biggest defeat came in 2002 when they lost 5-0 to France. While they have yet to have the same level of success as some other nations, Slovenia's progress in recent years is promising and they continue to be a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Denmark has remained reasonably competitive on the international scene. Winning the 1992 European Championships in Sweden, defeating the then-defending champions Holland in the semi-final and then world champions Germany in the final.
Meanwhile, Denmark qualified for the European Championship in a rather unconventional fashion. They were not expected to participate in the tournament after finishing second in their qualification group, behind Yugoslavia. However, after Yugoslavia’s suspension from FIFA and UEFA due to the Yugoslav Wars, Denmark, as the next-best team in the group, took their spot.
Slovenia and Denmark have faced off 6 times with the Danes triumphing on 5 such occasions, a draw and incurring no losses in that period. Their most recent tie featured a 1-1 draw in the Stadion Stozice Stadium in Slovenia, where Rasmus Hojlund pegged one back to nullify Andraz Sporar’s 25th-minute opener. The return leg in Copenhagen saw Denmark triumph with goals from Joakim Maehle and Thomas Delaney in a keenly contested game to run out as 2-1 winners.
Match Tickets
The Slovenia vs. Denmark fixture will be held at the Stuttgart Arena in Germany on the 16th of June 2024 at 17:00, which is the home of VFB Stuttgart. The stadium has been renovated and modernized since being built in 1993 and has hosted matches at the 1974 and 2006 FIFA World Cups and the 1988 UEFA European Championship.
Slovenia vs Denmark tickets can be purchased through the UEFA website, while BBC and ITV will broadcast the tournament in the United Kingdom. Fox Sports, FuboTV, and TelevisaUnivision will air the games in the United States.
Team News
Line ups
The Reprezentanca of Slovenia will head into the tournament in a seemingly tough group to make a name for their country internationally. Lead from the back by Skipper Jan Oblak and the expertise of Jaka Bijol of Udinese, manager Matjaz Kez in his second stint will need much more than the sheer brilliance of Benjamin Sesko to make a stand in the tournament.
Slovenia XI - Oblak; Janza, Bijol, Blazic, Karnicnik; Mlakar, Elsnik, Cerin, Verbic; Sesko, Vipotnik
The Danish Dynamites would likely build on their excellent outing at the last edition. The side will certainly be banking on the presence of playmaker Christian Eriksen having worked his way back to full fitness and stints with Brentford and Manchester United since the unfortunate cardiac arrest incident when he stepped up to take a corner against Finland at the last Euros.
Peter Schmeichel was a part of the 1992 Denmark winning squad and his son Kasper, currently skippering the side will look to draw some inspiration and possibly lead his side to glory at the expanse of the tough odds. In Rasmus Hojlund, they have raw talent as an outlet, the experience Yussuf Poulsen can offer, inform Wolfsburg forward Jonas Wind and former Ajax starboy Kasper Dolberg.
Denmark’s back three showcases the defensive prowess on offer from newly acquired FC Barcelona center-back Andreas Christensen, Leicester City’s towering Jannik Vestergaard as well as Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen in one of the best seasons of his career so far.
Kasper Hjumland indeed has many options in midfield with Pierre-Emile Hojberg, Mathias Jensen, and Thomas Delaney, amongst others.
Denmark XI - Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Maehle, Hojberg, Norgaard, Eriksen, Kristiansen; Hojlund, Wind. (3-5-2).
Prediction
This fixture has all up for grabs between both sides and whichever shows more grit and tenacity is expected to come out top. Denmark has had good runs in significant tournaments recently and will approach this game with the mentality of kicking off another surreal tournament on a solid foot.
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
