EURO 2024: Serbia denies Slovenia first win with late strike
Serbia denied Slovenia its first win in EURO 2024 with a late strike from Luka Jovic that ended in a draw at Munich, Germany, on Wednesday.
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SERBIA DENIES SLOVENIA FIRST EURO 2024 WIN AFTER LATE JOVIC STRIKE
Serbia prevented Slovenia from notching its first EURO 2024 victory after a Jovic strike in stoppage time ended the match in a 1-1 draw.
Interestingly, that shot kept Serbia’s chances of reaching the knockout stage alive.
Moreover, Jovic turned in a corner and converted the shot past Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Zan Karnicnik hit a shot in the 69th minute to give Slovenia the early lead only to be denied by Jovic.
Slovenian players collapsed in disappointment after the referee blew the whistle signalling the end of full-time.
Furthermore, Jovic’s equalizer turned out to be the last play of the match.
SERBIA ‘DIDN’T ACCEPT’ LOSING TO SLOVENIA, SAYS STOJKOVIC
Serbia, moreover, “didn’t accept” losing to Slovenia in this match, said Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic.
“We didn’t accept that we would lose to Slovenia tonight. We didn’t want to accept this result and that’s why the reward came,” Stojkovic said.
“Serbs do not die easily. We do not give up and nor will die. We believe all the way to the end and the reward came for believing,” he added.
Moreover, the result enabled Serbia to get one point ahead of its final Group C match against Denmark.
Meanwhile, Stojkovic was unmindful of reports that Serbian officials threatened to quit due to offensive fan chants during the Albania-Croatia match.
“I’m just focusing on the game. Honestly speaking, I didn’t even read anything. Believe me or not, it’s true,” the Serbian coach said.
SLOVENIA DESERVES ‘PLACE HERE AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS,’ SAYS KEK
Furthermore, Slovenia deserves a “place here at the European Championships” more than ever with the result, says coach Matjaz Kek.
“Slovenia has shown that it has a place here at the European Championships. Sports and football can be cruel but I believe karma will play its part for this team,” Kek said.
“We have played a fair game in an atmosphere for the ages,” he added.
Interestingly, Slovenia now has two points from two matches in Group C ahead of its faceoff against England on Tuesday.
Karnicnik’s opening-match goal raised Slovenian fans’ hopes to see its team getting a historic first win.
However, Kek remains thankful for the gallant effort of his players.
“There was a lack of concentration in the last minute but a big thank you to the players for the heart that they have shown in this arena,” he said.
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