Slovenia National Football Team Profile

Profile of the Slovenia national football team history, top scores, most caps / appearances. NZS Nogometna zveza Slovenije is the football association of Slovenia was founded on 1920 and represents governing body for football in Slovenia in a international competition and is controlled by NZS. Became a member of UEFA Affiliation in 1994 and FIFA Affiliation in 1994.

The Football Association of Slovenia (Nogometna zveza Slovenije or NZS) has its origins in the Ljubljana Football Association, founded on 23 April 1920. This forerunner of the NZS organised footballing activities in the country, including a national championship and cups, under the wider authority of the Yugoslav Football Association (Fudbalski Savez Jugoslavije or FSJ).

NZS Nogometna zveza Slovenije
Nation: Slovenia	Founded: 1920
UEFA Affiliation: 1994	FIFA Affiliation: 1994
Web: http://www.nzs.si	Phone: +386 1 530 04 00

The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991. Before Slovenian independence in 1991, the Slovenian national team existed only as a regional team not officially recognized by FIFA. The team had mostly played against similar teams from other republics of SFR Yugoslavia and was represented by Slovenian players under the traditional colours of white, blue and red. In 1991, Slovenia was the first of the republics, alongside Croatia, to gain independence from Yugoslavia.

With the recognition of the new country by the international community the team was recognized also by FIFA and UEFA. The new Slovenian national football team played its first FIFA-recognized game on 3 June 1992 in Tallinn against Estonia. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with Igor Benedejcic scoring the first goal for the new team. The first coach of the team was Bojan Prasnikar.

That same year the NZS was admitted to UEFA and FIFA, heralding the country's involvement in the UEFA European Championship qualifiers for EURO '96. The team took their competitive bow in a 1-1 home draw with Italy, FIFA World Cup runners-up, in Maribor on 7 September 1994. Sašo Udovič scored Slovenia's goal.

Euro 2000. For its first major tournament, Slovenia was drawn into group C together with Spain, Yugoslavia and Norway. In the first game of the group Slovenia stunned Yugoslavia and took a 3–0 lead after one hour of play, with Zlatko Zahovic scoring twice and Miran Pavlin once. After the red card of Sinisa Mihajlovic it looked like the team would have won its first game, but then Yugoslavia made a dream comeback as they scored three goals in only six minutes. The final result was 3–3. The second game was played in Amsterdam against Spain. Spain took the 1–0 lead quickly as Raul scored. Slovenia equalised after one hour of play as Zlatko Zahovic scored his third goal of the tournament. Spain then took the lead again after only sixty seconds as Joseba Etxeberria scored a goal winner. In the last round of the group stage Slovenia played against Norway and still had theoretical chances to progress to the quarterfinals. At the end the game was a goalless draw and the team won its second point of the tournament.

World Cup 2002. Slovenia played in the group B with Spain, Paraguay and South Africa. All matches in this group were played in South Korea. On the first game Slovenia played against Spain for the second time in a row on a major tournament. Under heavy rain Spain took the lead late in the first half with the goal from Raul. Valeron added a second 15 minutes before full-time for a 2–0 lead. Then seven minutes later Sebastjan Cimirotic managed to score the first World Cup goal for Slovenia to reduce the score to 2–1, giving Slovenia some hope. That hope was soon shattered when Fernando Hierro scored a penalty goal in 87 minute for the final score of 3–1. And they capitulated on its two remaining matches against South Africa (1–0) and Paraguay (3–1). Milenko Acimovic scored the second goal for Slovenia on the tournament.

World Cup 2010. Slovenia were drawn into Group C alongside England, Algeria and the USA. Slovenia won their opening game against Algeria in Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane 1–0, Robert Koren scoring Slovenia's goal. In their second game against the United States, Slovenia were leading 2–0 at half time with Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic scoring for Slovenia, however Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley scored for the USA for the score to finish 2–2.  In their last match in the preliminary round, Slovenia lost to England 0–1 by a goal from Jermain Defoe. Because the United States beat Algeria with the only goal scored in the 92nd minute of the match, the Slovenian team was eliminated.

National Flag Of Slovenia

• Data :

- Nickname:-
- Association: Nogometna zveza Slovenije NZS
- Home Stadium: Ljudski vrt, Stozice Stadium, Arena Petrol, Bezigrad Stadium
- Address: Cerinova 4 PP 3986 1001 LJUBLJANA
- Fax: +386 1 530 04 10
- FIFA Code: SVN

• UEFA European Championship Record

Slovenia EURO Participations
Host	Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
	1960- 1992	did not enter
	1996	did not qualify
	2000	Group Stage	3	0	2	1	4	5
	2004	did not qualify
	2008	did not qualify
	2012	did not qualify
Total	=	1/14	3	0	2	1	4	5
	2016	next

• FIFA World Cup Record

Slovenia FIFA World Cup Participations
Host	Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
	1930- 1994	did not enter
	1998	did not qualify
	2002	Round 1	3	0	0	3	2	7
	2006	did not qualify
	2010	Round 1	3	1	1	1	3	3
Total	=	2/19	6	1	1	4	5	10
	2014	next

• Top Score

Top Scorers of The Slovenia Team
Players	Goals	Caps	Periods
Zlatko Zahovic	35	80	1992-2004
Milivoje Novakovic	20	55	2006-?
Saso Udovic	16	42	1992-2000
Ermin Siljak	14	48	1994-2005
Milenko Acimovic	13	74	1998-2007
Primoz Gliha	10	28	1992-1998
Tim Matavz	9	21	2009-?
Zlatko Dedic	8	45	2004-?
Milan Osterc	8	44	1997-2002
Zlatan Ljubijankic	6	38	2006-?

• Most Appearances

Most Caps of The Slovenia Team
Players	Caps	Periods
Zlatko Zahovic	80	1992-2004
Ales Ceh	74	1992-2002
Milenko Acimovic	74	1998-2007
Dzoni Novak	71	1992-2002
Bostjan Cesar	67	2003-?
Marinko Galic	66	1994-2002
Aleksander Knavs	65	1998-2006
Mladen Rudonja	65	1994-2003
Amir Karic	64	1996-2004
Miran Pavlin	63	1994-2004

Slovenia National Football Team Profile.