As Slovenia gears up to host Armenia in an international friendly on June 4, football fans are keenly analyzing both teams' forms, strengths, and weaknesses.
This match, set at the Stozice Stadium, is crucial for Slovenia as they prepare for the Euro 2024. Here’s a comprehensive preview of the match, including predictions, team news, and expected lineups.
Match Preview
Slovenia's Road to Euro 2024
Slovenia, under the guidance of coach Matjaz Kek, has been in remarkable form. The team finished second in their Euro 2024 qualifying group, matching Denmark's 22 points but losing out on the top spot due to head-to-head results.
Their recent performances include a notable 2-0 victory over Portugal in March, showcasing their potential to be a dark horse in the upcoming tournament.
Slovenia's form has been consistent, with wins against the United States and a draw against Malta in their latest friendlies.
Armenia's Struggle for Consistency
Armenia, on the other hand, missed out on Euro 2024 qualification, finishing fourth in their group.
Despite a promising start, they faltered towards the end, managing only one point from their last four qualifying matches.
Coach Oleksandr Petrakov is looking to rebuild the team, focusing on younger talents like Eduard Spertsyan.
Armenia's recent friendly results have been less than encouraging, with losses to Kosovo and Czechia, extending their winless streak to eight matches.
Team News
Slovenia
Slovenia's squad for this friendly includes key players like Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak and Atalanta's veteran forward Josip Ilicic, who returns to the national team after a significant hiatus.
RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, a highly-touted young striker, is also expected to play a crucial role.
Predicted Lineup
Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak
Defenders: Stojanovic, Blazic, Bijol, Janza
Midfielders: Horvat, Gorenc Stankovic, Gnezda Cerin, Lovric
Forwards: Ilicic, Sesko
Armenia
Armenia will be without their talisman Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but Krasnodar's Eduard Spertsyan is a promising replacement, having shown great form in the Russian Premier League.
The squad includes a mix of domestic league players and those from the Russian top flight.
Predicted Lineup
Goalkeeper: Cancarevic
Defenders: Davidyan, Haroyan, Mkrtchyan, Muradyan, Grigoryan
Midfielders: Spertsyan, Dashyan, Harutyunyan, Sevikyan
Forward: Miranyan
Prediction
Given Slovenia's solid form and home advantage, they are favourites to win this match.
Armenia's recent struggles and transitional phase under Petrakov might make it challenging for them to secure a positive result.
Slovenia 
Armenia 
