Slovenia at the FIFA World Cup

Slovenia have appeared in the finals tournament of the FIFA World Cup on two occasions, in 2002 and 2010. The team was eliminated in the group stage on both occasions. Their first and, to date, the only World Cup victory came in 2010, when Slovenia defeated Algeria 1–0 with a goal by Robert Koren.

World Cup record

From 1930 to 1990, Slovenia did not compete at the World Cup as the country was part of Yugoslavia. Since their independence in 1991, Slovenia have qualified for two World Cups and was eliminated in the group stage on both occasions.

Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1994Did not enter
1998Did not qualify
2002Group stage30th300327
2006Did not qualify
2010Group stage18th311133
2014Did not qualify
2018
2022
2026To be determined
TotalGroup stage2/86114510

2002 FIFA World Cup

Slovenia qualified for their first World Cup in 2002 under the management of Srečko Katanec. They suffered a 3–1 defeat to Spain in their opening game. Katanec's decision to substitute midfielder Zlatko Zahovič led to an argument that ended with Zahovič being expelled from the team and sent home, and Katanec announced his intention to resign as manager after the tournament.[1] Slovenia lost their second game 1–0 to South Africa, leaving them unable to qualify from the group.[2] The side's final game ended in a 3–1 defeat to Paraguay.[3]

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Spain 330094+59
 Paraguay 31116604
 South Africa 31115504
 Slovenia 300327−50
Spain 3–1 Slovenia
Raúl 44'
Valerón 74'
Hierro 87' (pen.)		 Report Cimirotič 82'
Attendance: 28,598
South Africa 1–0 Slovenia
Nomvethe 4' Report
Attendance: 47,226
Slovenia 1–3 Paraguay
Ačimovič 45+1' Report Cuevas 65', 84'
Campos 73'
Attendance: 30,176

2010 FIFA World Cup

Slovenia were the smallest country in terms of population to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.[4] Under the management of Matjaž Kek, the side qualified for the tournament by winning a two-legged playoff against Russia despite having lost the first leg.[5] Slovenia beat Algeria 1–0 in their opening game, securing their first ever World Cup victory, and drew 2–2 with the United States. This meant that the side only needed to draw their final group game against England to reach the second round of the tournament.[6] However, a 1–0 defeat to England, combined with a United States victory over Algeria, saw the side finish third in the group and fail to progress.[7]

Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  United States 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  England 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 5
3  Slovenia 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
4  Algeria 3 0 1 2 0 2 −2 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
Algeria 0–1 Slovenia
Report Koren 78'
Attendance: 30,325
Slovenia 2–2 United States
Birsa 12'
Ljubijankić 41'		 Report Donovan 47'
Bradley 81'
Attendance: 45,573
Slovenia 0–1 England
Report Defoe 22'
Attendance: 36,893

Record players

Slovenia's 2010 squad did not feature a single player from the 2002 tournament, so no player had the chance to play more than three World Cup matches for Slovenia.

No. Name Matches World Cups
1 Milenko Ačimovič32002
Aleš Čeh32002
Sebastjan Cimirotič32002
Amir Karić32002
Željko Milinovič32002
Džoni Novak32002
Milan Osterc32002
Miran Pavlin32002
Mladen Rudonja32002
Valter Birsa32010
Mišo Brečko32010
Boštjan Cesar32010
Zlatko Dedić32010
Samir Handanović32010
Bojan Jokić32010
Andraž Kirm32010
Robert Koren32010
Zlatan Ljubijankić32010
Milivoje Novaković32010
Aleksandar Radosavljević32010
Marko Šuler32010

Goalscorers

Five Slovenian players scored one goal each at FIFA World Cups.

No. Name Goals World Cups
1 Milenko Ačimovič12002
Sebastjan Cimirotič12002
Valter Birsa12010
Robert Koren12010
Zlatan Ljubijankić12010

References
  1. "Slovenia send Zahovic home". BBC Sport. 6 June 2002. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  2. "S Africa send Slovenia home". BBC Sport. 8 June 2002. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. "Paraguay snatch vital win". BBC Sport. 12 June 2002. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  4. "Little Slovenia thinking big". FIFA. 17 June 2010. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. Viškovič, Rok (18 November 2019). "Večer v Mariboru, ko je Zlatko postal zlatko" (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. "World Cup 2010: Slovenia boss respects England quality". BBC Sport. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  7. Plestenjak, Rok (13 June 2018). "SP 2010: Matjaž Kek potožil: Naj gre vse skupaj k vragu" (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
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