For the first time in their history, the Slovenia national team has advanced to the knockout stage of the European Championship. Ahead of their Round of 16 clash against Portugal, Slovenia’s coach Kocak expressed his desire to lead his team even further.
In March, Slovenia secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Portugal in a friendly match. Ahead of their Euro elimination encounter, Kocak remains composed. He says, “We beat them in March? That was a completely different game! While that win gives us positive vibes, it would be foolish to think we’ll easily defeat them next time. Relying on the 2-0 win will get us into trouble; everyone knows who the favorites are, but we still have great motivation and haven’t taken any days off.”
Kocak emphasizes that despite being a small nation with a population just over two million, his players are confident facing Portugal. “I always felt these boys knew what could happen in this tournament, so when we actually qualified, not many were surprised. We come from a small population, but we must recognize our capabilities. Losing isn’t a tragedy; our players have mature minds and strategies to cope, which amazes me,” he adds.
According to Kocak, Slovenia is ready for any challenge. “We’re still here on this grand stage, like the Georgians who also upset Portugal. We might be considered outsiders, but that suits me fine because I love challenges. I don’t want to be a replica of Croatians, Germans, or Portuguese; the Slovenia team has its own path to follow.”