Coach: Matjaz Kek
Key Player: Milivoje Novakovic
World Ranking: 23
World Cup Record: 1 previous appearance in 2006
Group C Schedule:
13 June – Algeria v Slovenia
18 June – Slovenia v USA
23 June- Slovenia v England
Slovenia caused a major upset to qualify for the World Cup finals after they knocked out favourites Russia in one of Europe's four play-offs. Coach Matjaz Kek is confident they can reach the last 16 for the first time in a major tournament, but acknowledged his thin squad would have to reproduce their qualifying form.
Slovenia are an industrious team with few world-class talents but their work rate can outweigh their weaknesses. It remains to be seen whether gifted youngsters Rene Krhin and Tim Matavz will break into the final 23-man squad.
Striker Milivoje Novakovic was Slovenia's top scorer in qualifying and the team's chances of reaching the last 16 rest heavily on his clinical finishing.
Midfielder Valter Birsa has had an excellent season at Ligue 1 side Auxerre while goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic appears to have peaked at Serie A club Udinese and the trio should be the backbone of Slovenia's effort to reach uncharted territory in major tournaments, having bowed out of the group stage in Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup.
Final Squad:
Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (Mantova), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam); Bojan Jokic (Chievo), Marko Suler (Gent), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (FC Moscow), Matej Mavric-Rozic (Koblenz), Elvedin Dzinic (Maribor), Miso Brecko (Cologne), Suad Filekovic (Maribor); Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel-Aviv), Rene Krhin (Inter Milan), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Robert Koren (West Brom), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Valter Birsa (Auxerre); Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Gent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional), Tim Matavz (FC Groningen).
