Slovenia vs Serbia: Euro 2024 Group C Thriller

Key Moments

1. Elsnik Hits the Post (38′): Timi Elsnik’s thunderous effort from outside the box struck the right post, nearly giving Slovenia the lead.
2. Mitrovic’s Missed Chance (49′): Aleksandar Mitrovic’s attempted chip over Jan Oblak was smothered by the Slovenian goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.
3. Karnicnik’s Goal (69′): Zan Karnicnik arrived at the back post to finish off an excellent team move, giving Slovenia the lead.
4. Mitrovic Hits the Crossbar (72′): Aleksandar Mitrovic’s half-volley crashed against the crossbar, denying Serbia an immediate equalizer.
5. Jovic’s Last-Gasp Equalizer (90+6′): Luka Jovic’s remarkable header from a corner in the final seconds of the match salvaged a point for Serbia.

Match Review

In a pulsating Euro 2024 Group C encounter at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Slovenia and Serbia played out a thrilling 1-1 draw that kept both teams’ hopes of progression alive. The match was characterized by end-to-end action, near misses, and a dramatic conclusion that left spectators on the edge of their seats.

First Half

The opening 45 minutes set the tone for what would be an enthralling contest. Slovenia, buoyed by their draw against Denmark in their opening fixture, started brightly. Their high-pressing game caused problems for Serbia, who struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the first half was when Timi Elsnik unleashed a powerful drive from outside the box in the 38th minute. The ball struck the right post with Serbia’s goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic beaten, rebounding to Benjamin Sesko who, with the goal at his mercy, somehow managed to lift his shot over the crossbar.

Serbia, despite boasting the attacking talents of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic, found it difficult to create clear-cut chances. Their best opportunity came from a set-piece when Nemanja Gudelj’s free-kick forced a smart save from Jan Oblak.

Second Half

The second half began with increased urgency from Serbia. In the 49th minute, a clever one-two between Mitrovic and Dusan Tadic saw the former through on goal. However, Oblak was quick off his line to smother Mitrovic’s attempted chip, keeping the scores level.

As the half progressed, both teams traded attacks. Slovenia’s compact defensive shape continued to frustrate Serbia, while on the counter-attack, they looked increasingly dangerous.

The breakthrough came in the 69th minute. A flowing move started and finished by Zan Karnicnik saw the right-back arrive at the back post to half-volley home Timi Elsnik’s cross, sending the Slovenian fans into raptures.

Serbia’s response was immediate and almost bore fruit. Just three minutes after falling behind, Mitrovic rose highest to meet a cross, only to see his powerful header crash against the crossbar with Oblak beaten.

As the clock ticked down, Serbia threw everything forward in search of an equalizer. Their persistence was rewarded in the most dramatic fashion possible. In the sixth minute of added time, Luka Jovic, who had come on as a substitute, met Ivan Ilic’s corner with a perfectly placed header that nestled in the bottom corner, breaking Slovenian hearts and keeping Serbia’s tournament hopes alive.

Player Ratings

Slovenia

• Jan Oblak (8): Commanding presence in goal, made crucial saves, particularly from Mitrovic.
• Zan Karnicnik (9): Man of the match performance, scored the opener and was solid defensively.
• Miha Blazic (7): Solid at the back, dealt well with Serbia’s attacking threats.
• Jaka Bijol (7): Formed a good partnership with Blazic, strong in the air.
• Jure Balkovec (7): Provided width on the left, defended well against Serbia’s wingers.
• Jasmin Kurtic (7): Controlled the midfield tempo, broke up play effectively.
• Adam Gnezda Cerin (7): Energetic performance, linked defense and attack well.
• Timi Max Elsnik (8): Unlucky not to score, hit the post and provided the assist for Karnicnik’s goal.
• Sandi Lovric (6): Worked hard but struggled to make a significant impact.
• Andraz Sporar (6): Led the line well, but service was limited.
• Benjamin Sesko (7): Showed flashes of his potential, should have scored from Elsnik’s rebound.

Serbia

• Predrag Rajkovic (6): Had little to do but was beaten for Slovenia’s goal.
• Nikola Milenkovic (6): Solid defensively but caught out of position for Slovenia’s goal.
• Strahinja Pavlovic (7): Strong in the air, made some crucial interceptions.
• Milos Veljkovic (6): Struggled at times with Slovenia’s movement but improved as the game progressed.
• Filip Mladenovic (5): Found it difficult to cope with Karnicnik’s runs, subbed off early.
• Nemanja Gudelj (6): Worked hard in midfield but lacked creativity.
• Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (7): Grew into the game, his physicality caused problems for Slovenia.
• Dusan Tadic (8): Serbia’s most creative player, involved in most of their attacking moves.
• Filip Kostic (6): Not at his best, struggled to make an impact before being substituted.
• Dusan Vlahovic (6): Isolated for long periods, didn’t receive enough service.
• Aleksandar Mitrovic (7): Constant threat, unlucky not to score, hit the crossbar.

Group C Table

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Points
England	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
Denmark	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1
Slovenia	2	0	2	0	2	2	0	2
Serbia	2	0	1	1	1	2	-1	1

FAQs

Q: What does this result mean for both teams?
A: Both teams are still in contention for qualification. Slovenia now has two points from two games, while Serbia has one point. Their final group games will be crucial.

Q: Who was the standout player of the match?
A: Zan Karnicnik of Slovenia was the standout performer, scoring the opening goal and putting in a solid defensive display.

Q: How did Serbia manage to equalize?
A: Substitute Luka Jovic scored a header from a corner in the 96th minute, the last action of the game.

Q: What were the main tactical approaches of both teams?
A: Slovenia adopted a compact, counter-attacking style, while Serbia dominated possession but struggled to break down Slovenia’s defense.

Q: How important was Jan Oblak’s performance for Slovenia?
A: Oblak’s performance was crucial, making several key saves, particularly from Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Next Fixtures

• Slovenia: Will face England in their final group game on June 25th in Cologne.
• Serbia: Set to play Denmark on June 25th in Frankfurt.

This thrilling encounter has set the stage for an exciting conclusion to Group C. Both Slovenia and Serbia have shown they have the quality to compete at this level, and their final group matches promise to be equally captivating. The late equalizer from Serbia will give them confidence going into their crucial match against Denmark, while Slovenia will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to face group favorites England. With everything still to play for, the final round of matches in Group C is not to be missed.