No questioning England’s quality as Slovenia brace for challenge of a generation

England’s haphazard start to their European Championship is no reason to doubt their ability, according to the coach of their next opponents Slovenia, though they should expect a fight from a team playing their biggest match in 14 years.

Slovenia have drawn both of their Group C matches 1-1 so far and need a win against England in Cologne on Tuesday to guarantee their passage to the second round for the first time as an independent country.

A draw may also be enough, but that would depend on the outcome of the other group match between Denmark and Serbia.

Asked about whether England’s stuttering performances were an advantage to his team, coach Matjaz Kek said it was unwise to make any assumptions.

“The Euros have just started and I see England as one of the favourites to win this year’s tournament,” Kek said on Monday.

“The path to decisive matches is still quite long, we are still just in the group stage. I don’t know why I would question England, be it the individual quality of the players or the quality of the team in general.”

Slovenia are expected to be largely unchanged but could be without their top forward Benjamin Sesko, whom Kek said would need a late fitness test.

Slovenia’s last big game prior to Euro 2024 was, coincidently, also against England – a 1-0 defeat in their final group match of the World Cup in 2010, when Kek was in his first stint in the job. Slovenia’s last Euros appearance was in 2000.

They could have been in a sweet spot going into the final game but conceded deep in stoppage time against Serbia last week, denying themselves a first-ever European Championship win.

Kek said he was still immensely proud of his side, who were ready and capable of neutralising England’s attacking riches, and of snatching an important goal that could be a game-changer.

“You draw a match in a tournament that basically sees you as an outsider, and where the goal difference might play a big role,” he said. “We are still the masters of our own destiny.”

“We know that England is an amazingly good team, but we also have the quality to score once, to score twice.

“Tomorrow’s match will be the greatest challenge of this generation of players.”