The Slovenia and Serbia national teams played to a thrilling 1-1 draw in a Group C match at Euro 2024. The Balkan derby between the two countries lived up to expectations, with plenty of football and fighting all over the pitch. In the end, the western neighbors will be happier with the draw. Dragan Stojković’s team were on the brink of elimination from the continental tournament if Luka Jović had not become the hero for the “Reprezentacija” deep in added time.
Tears were for Slovenia instead. Matjaž Kek’s players displayed some great football that almost led them to their first historic victory in a European finals. In the 68th minute, Žan Karničnik scored for the “Green-Whites,” but in the end, the efforts of the player and his teammates were not enough.
The Serbs started this match charged with a huge amount of emotion, as during the warm-up the “Eagles” were surprised by a special video message that Novak Djokovic had personally made for his compatriots. The role of motivator for the Slovenians was taken by their famous cyclist Tadej Pogačar.
The symbolic hosts got their first excellent chance to take the lead just 180 seconds into the game. Saša Lukić made a bad mistake in midfield, allowing Čerin to advance with the ball at his feet and take a shot that was deflected by Predrag Rajković.
Serbia’s response did not come long, with star Dušan Vlahović putting Jan Oblak under maximum pressure, forcing the experienced Atlético Madrid goalkeeper to clear the ball in panic to the touchline, clearly distracted by the aggressive actions of the No. 7 star.
As expected, the Serbian fans did not waste much time in showing their true colors, starting to chant their favorite refrain: “Kosovo is Serbia!”, which was sure to get them into big trouble with UEFA.
Pixie’s “Eagles” looked more confident, but it was the Slovenians who could have punished them on the pitch in the eighth minute. Jan Mlakar was completely forgotten by Pavlović and Maksimović, allowing him to take a powerful diagonal shot, which was saved with great class by Predrag Rajković.
Saša Lukić’s actions were literally driving Dragan Stojković to fits of rage. The specialist was extremely unhappy with the actions of the midfielder, who at this point in the match was losing almost every battle in midfield. These inaccuracies had already created two clear scoring opportunities for the Slovenians.
Dušan Vlahović was literally being “stifled” by the excellent Slovenian defense, but a striker of his caliber still got his chance in the 27th minute. A cross from Mladenović allowed him to play with his head, but only to see Oblak calmly catch the ball.
The Serbs were definitely emerging from their moments of crisis, as they had another good chance in the 31st minute. Dušan Tadić curled in an excellent corner kick, but Aleksandar Mitrović was just short of getting a header that would have brought a goal for his homeland.
The Slovenians had to curse fate that they were no longer the deserved leader on the scoreboard as the 37th minute arrived. Saša Lukić again made it so that an opponent’s player could easily break through the center. In this case, it was Timi Elsnik, who in a fantastic way eliminated another Serbian player before taking a powerful shot at Rajković’s left post. Benjamin Šeško had a chance for an add-on, but the star of the symbolic hosts disappointed with his inaccuracy.
The Serbs took the warning seriously after Elsnik’s situation and in turn created a clear scoring opportunity. A cross from the right did not find Vlahović, but the ball still reached his partner in attack Aleksandar Mitrović. The striker used his powerful physique to leave Žan Karničnik behind and took a shot that was saved in a great way by Jan Oblak.
The second half started with an incredible chance for the Serbian national team. Mitrović and Tadić made a great double pass, after which the goalscorer of our western neighbors was left alone against Oblak. However, this time again Mitrogol lost the individual battle with the best Slovenian footballer.
The Slovenians could have put themselves in big trouble as the 51st minute arrived. Then Jaka Bijol cleared a cross from substitute Gačinović so unprofessionally that he and Jan Oblak only watched with relief as it did not go into their net.
Serbia pressed forward, but Slovenia capitalized on a defensive lapse. In the 57th minute, Elsnik and Šeško combined at high speed. The Salzburg player had a shot from the edge of the box, but Rajković made a spectacular save.
Slovenia took the lead in the 68th minute with a swift counterattack. Kek’s men switched play to Elsnik on the wing. The Slovenian number 10 displayed his creativity by finding Karničnik at the far post instead of passing to Šeško or Šporar. Karničnik, unmarked by Milinković-Savić, scored from close range.
Serbia nearly equalized immediately. Mitrović won the physical battle with Karničnik again, but his powerful shot from ten meters out rattled the crossbar.
Karničnik almost added another in the 81st minute with a long-range effort that narrowly missed the target.
Serbia threw everything forward but couldn’t break through the Slovenian defense marshaled by the omnipresent Oblak, even with three strikers (Mitrović, Jović, and Samardžić) on the pitch.
In a dramatic turn of events in the 95th minute, Slovenia conceded a surprising equalizer. Serbia relied on a final corner kick, with even goalkeeper Rajković joining the attack. Jović proved to be the most alert and headed the ball in, sending the Eagles into a frenzy as the goal kept their Euro 2024 campaign alive.
Both teams will conclude their Group C campaign on June 25th. Slovenia faces England, while Serbia takes on Denmark.
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