Kek unveils Slovenia selection
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Article summary
Slovenia coach Matjaž Kek has included two uncapped players – FC Groningen striker Tim Matavž and NK Maribor defender Elvedin Džinič – in his 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup finals.
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Slovenia coach Matjaž Kek has kept faith with the players who performed so creditably in qualifying in naming his 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup finals.
Kek has included only two uncapped players in his party – FC Groningen striker Tim Matavž and NK Maribor defender Elvedin Džinič – with Mirnes Šišič, Darijan Matič and Dejan Kelhar the final three players to miss out from the provisional squad.
Slovenia's head coach announced his selection after the final session at the training camp in Brunico, Kek's team concluding their preparations with a home friendly against New Zealand in Maribor on 4 June.
Slovenia are in Group C at the World Cup finals – only their second following their 2002 debut – and start their campaign against Algeria in Polokwane on 13 June. They take on the United States in Johannesburg five days later before concluding their group campaign on 23 June against England in Port Elizabeth.
Slovenia squad
Goalkeepers: Samir Handanovič (Udinese Calcio), Jasmin Handanovič (AC Mantova), Aleksander Šeliga (Sparta Rotterdam).
Defenders: Mišo Brečko (1. FC Köln), Boštjan Cesar (AC Chievo Verona), Elvedin Džinič (NK Maribor), Suad Filekovič (NK Maribor), Branko Ilič (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Bojan Jokič (AC Chievo Verona), Matej Mavrič (Kapfenberg SV), Marko Šuler (KAA Gent).
Midfielders: Valter Birsa (AJ Auxerre), Andraž Kirm (Wisla Kraków), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Robert Koren (West Bromwich Albion FC), René Krhin (FC Internazionale Milano), Aleksander Radosavljevič (Larissa FC), Dalibor Stevanovič (BV Vitesse).
Strikers: Zlatko Dedič (VfL Bochum 1848), Zlatan Ljubijankič (KAA Gent), Tim Matavž (FC Groningen), Milivoje Novakovič (1. FC Köln), Nejc Pečnik (CD Nacional).
