Euro 2024 - 'Nice to start with a win,' Denmark's Kasper Schmeichel says.
As Slovenia makes a long-awaited return to the European Championship, they clash with an experienced Denmark at MHPArena, where both teams seek to build confidence and momentum in their quest for tournament glory.
Slovenia
Slovenia will be making a return to the European Championship for the first time in almost two and a half decades, having last featured at Euro 2000. It marks the second-longest gap between two appearances at the tournament by any team, with only Hungary experiencing a longer hiatus.
During the qualifying round, Slovenia finished as runners-up in Group H after securing seven wins in ten games. Matjaž Kek, who has been the team's coach since 2018, will hope to lead his side to their very first victory in the European Championship.
Defender Petar Stojanović acknowledged their upcoming challenge, stating, "We all know that they are a top-notch team. Many people are even saying that they can win the tournament. But we are prepared."
Atlético Madrid's Jan Oblak and the highly sought-after Benjamin Šeško, who scored five goals during the qualifying round, are prominent names in the squad. Slovenia shares Group C with Serbia, England, and Sunday’s opponents, Denmark.
They head into Sunday’s fixture having remained unbeaten in their last five matches, a streak that includes a 2-0 victory over Portugal in March. Last Saturday, Slovenia settled for a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria, deploying a 4—3—3 formation with Andraž Šporar, Šeško, and Jan Mlakar in attack. A similar setup is likely to be seen against Denmark.
Denmark
Denmark will be looking to equal and perhaps surpass their personal best of a semi-final finish achieved at Euro 2020. However, a group-stage exit at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and a rocky path to the Euros could leave doubts.
The biggest worry for the Danes is an ageing squad, headed by the quartet of Christian Eriksen, Kasper Schmeichel, Simon Kjær, and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. However, coach Kasper Hjulmand will hope the likes of Manchester United's Rasmus Højlund can find his goal-scoring form.
The Red and Whites are unbeaten in their last four matches while winning the last three [LDWWW]. They will be looking to extend the winning run to four games when they take on Slovenia. "It’s always nice to start with a good performance and a win because it gives you some confidence and something to build on," Kasper Schmeichel said ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Højlund, who was Denmark's leading scorer during the qualifying round with seven goals, is expected to spearhead the attack in a 3—4—2—1. "He moves incredibly well, and it's not by chance that Rasmus takes steps forward because it's his mindset; it's his personality," Hjulmand said about Højlund ahead of Sunday's game.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.