Slovenia are looking for a perfect start to EHF EURO 2016 qualification
Slovenia are looking for a perfect start to EHF EURO 2016 qualification
"It ended not so long ago, and here we go again," says Slovenia’s head coach Boris Denic just days before he gathers his men’s national team.
The most recent objective, the participation at the World Championship 2015 in Qatar, was reached in June. Now a new goal beckons – the Men’s EHF EURO 2016 in Poland.
Slovenia’s two steps towards the final tournament are two qualifiers, the first one against Slovakia on 29 October, the second one away at Latvia on 1 November.
Denic has nominated 21 and he confirms that everybody will join the preparation, despite some of the nominated players not being fully fit.
"We know that not everybody unfortunately is fit, but we have to see and check things out ourselves," says Denic, explaining that the 21 nominees also form the core from which he will draw his final squad for the World Championship in Qatar.
Reports have suggested that Borut Mackovsek, Sebastian Skube, Dragan Gajic and Uros Zorman are suffering from injuries and seem certain that Mackovsek and Skube will miss the two qualifiers – but Denic likes to keep the group together in a paternal kind of way.
The head coach has not nominated any debutants either.
"There are a few people that deserve a spot among the best, but I have to test them first.
"A lot is depending on these two games, I am not a gambling type of guy and I will go with what I know.”
Even if there are new injuries among the nominated players, the list of 21 will not change.
"21 players are more than enough, wouldn't you agree?" Denic simply says.
Cehte's second chance
RK Gorenje Velenje left back Klemen Cehte has returned to the team.
He unexpectedly left the squad under circumstances not 100 per cent last time the national team was in the Slovene Littoral, the westernmost part of the country, but Denic thinks that he should be an integral part.
"I'd like it very much if he adapts. He is playing in a quality league and is in form. But as always it is up to him to make the decision."
The coach is glad that his men are playing in quality clubs and competitions across the continent and he expects everybody to give his best.
"We are looking to a good start in this campaign. That should give us peace before the preparations for the World Championship start.
"Both opponents seem like easy work, but we mustn't fool ourselves. Everybody can play nowadays. But honestly, Slovenia is the favourite to win both matches."
Slovenia’s squad for the EHF EURO 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Latvia:
Goalkeepers: Klemen Ferlin (Gorenje), Primoz Prost (Frisch Auf Göppingen, GER), Gorazd Skof (Nantes, FRA).
Wing players: Dragan Gajic (Montpellier, FRA), Simon Razgor (Meshkov Brest, BLR), Luka Zvizej (Celje); Vid Kavticnik (Montpellier, FRA), Gasper Marguc (Veszprem, HUN).
Back court players: Klemen Cehte (Pays d'Aix, FRA), Borut Mackovsek (Montpellier, FRA), David Spiler (Meshkov Brest, BLR); Marko Bezjak (Magdeburg, GER), Dean Bombac (Szeged, HUN), Sebastian Skube (Silkeborg, DEN), Uros Zorman (Kielce, POL), Jure Dolenec (Montpellier, FRA), David Miklavcic (Celje), Jure Natek (Magdeburg, GER)
Line players: Uros Bundalo (Tremblay, FRA), Matej Gaber (Montpellier, FRA), Miha Zvizej (Toulouse, FRA)
