June 20 – For Serbia, last-gasp euphoria that almost certainly prevented elimination. For Slovenia, utter heartbreak as they agonisingly missed on a first ever Euro finals victory.
Oh, the nerve-shredding drama that only football can produce.
Six of the previous eight meetings between these two sides had ended in a draw but no-one could have anticipated the kind of finale we witnessed in Munich that saw the spoils shared again and kept both sides in with a chance of progressing from Group C.
Slovenia, the smallest nation by population at Euro 2024, were literally seconds away from celebrating a momentous victory, only for one final Serbian corner to be met by substitute Luka Jovic whose header found the bottom of net, in the process ripping almost certain qualification for the knockout stage from Slovenia’s grasp.
Now it’s all about what both sides can muster in their respective final games against England and Denmark.
Zan Karnicnik scored first for Slovenia
Having lost to England, this was a game Serbia simply couldn’t lose and as anticipated their captain Dusan Tadic, who had the hump at being left out against England, was restored to the starting lineup.
But it was UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin’s Slovenia who made all the early running, winning the tactical battle and creating a couple of highly presentable chances.
In fact it took Serbia 25 minutes to get going, dangerman Dusan Vlahovic heading straight at keeper Jan Oblak.
Still, Slovenia were creating the better chances and Timi Max Elsnik had their best, rifling the ball against the post and then seeing teammate Benjamin Sesko lash the rebound wide.
Oblek raced off his line to thwart Aleksander Mitrovic as halftime approached but there was little doubt which team had posed the greater first-half threat.
Luka Jovic equalised for Serbia in final minute
Slovenia’s sole finals appearance came at EURO 2000, when they finished bottom of Group C behind Spain, Yugoslavia and…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/06/20/serbia-break-slovenian-hearts-last-gasp-equaliser/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-06-20 16:25:07
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