Srecko Katanec, where have I heard that name before?
One of Slovenia's all-time greatest players Zlatko Zahovic had a bust-up with Srecko Katanec at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Katanec, who resigned after the tournament, kicked Zahovic out of the squad "for the good of the team" after the first match against Spain. Ugly scenes, including Zahovic kicking a water bottle over and Katanec crying at the press conference, were broadcast worldwide and overshadowed Slovenia's World Cup debut. Katanec, a former Yugoslavia player who enjoyed a successful playing career in Italy and Germany, took the Slovenia job for a second time in 2013 after unsatisfying stints in charge of Olympiakos, Macedonia and United Arab Emirates. During his coaching career he became famous for his bust-ups with star players like Zahovi? (Slovenia), Goran Pandev (Macedonia), Josip Ilicic and, most recently, Kevin Kampl, the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, who he had a bit of a clash with Katanec last year and has played in only one qualifier. He wants to play as a central midfielder, like he does in the Bundesliga but Katanec believe his best position is on the left wing. Still, his last name Katanec (lucky) is widely considered as a kind of guarantee for success in Slovenia.
4-2-3-1, 3-4-3 or something else?
Katanec is very likely to use a 4-4-2 diamond formation. Jan Oblak will stand between the posts, Bojan Jokic will play on the left, Hearts defender Aljaz Struna on the right, team captain Bostjan Cesar and Miral Samardzic (or Miha Mevlja) in central defence. Rene Krhin should play as a defensive midfielder with Jasmin Kurtic on the right and Kampl (or Benjamin Verbic) on the left. Valter Birsa should play at the top of the diamond, behind the strikers Robert Beric and Josip Ilicic. Another possible formation is 4-1-4-1 which was used against England last year and it worked up to the point where Slovenia almost – but couldn't quite – pull off a major shock.
Northern Ireland beat Slovenia last year, why can't Scotland?
Michael O'Neill's side recorded a morale-boosting win over Slovenia at Windsor Park last March during their preparations for the Euro 2016 finals but they faced a different team to the one Scotland will encounter. The evidence for that statement comes from tracking their progress in the World Cup 2018 qualifiers so far. The start against Lithuania brought a lucky draw and much public anger but Slovenia played far better afterwards in the wins over Slovakia and Malta and the aforementioned draw against England with Ilicic one of the key players. It is correct that Slovenia never won a football match in UK (seven games, three draws, four defeats) but Slovenia is now an unpredictable side with a solid defence which has conceded only two goals in four matches. The midfield is more than decent and there is some quality up front. The feeling in Slovenia is that Scotland is in crisis mode and is playing the role of the Northern Irish right now, of being the weakest side in the UK at present.
Which players should Scotland worry about?
Slovenia is a united and strong as a team right now but Katanec also possesses some genuine individual quality at his disposal. Slovenia's number one player is, fittingly, the No 1 Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid), who is among Europe's goalkeeping elite. Serie A and Bundesliga stars Ili?i? (Fiorentina) and Kampl (Bayer Leverkusen) are technically gifted players who are intelligent with the ball at their feet and good at opening space on the field. We can't forget experienced winger Birsa (Chievo) who is a set-piece specialist either.
What's the mood in Slovenia, can you qualify?
Slovenia is in a strong position in the group. Second place is there to take and with three points in Glasgow Slovenia would certainly step closer to that goal. There are some burning issues in the team though, like Kampl's comeback after bust-up with Katanec and omission from the team (the players then spoke public of Kampl's treason), Luka Zahovi?'s wait for a call-up (yeah, this is Zlatko Zahovic's son who is in a great form, playing for Slovenian league leaders Maribor), and strikers poor club form.
Robert Beric, Milivoje Novakovic and Roman Bezjak scored only four goals together since November last year. But the good news is that they all recovered after injuries or switched clubs and scored all their goals in March. At least a point at Hamden Park should be nevertheless a minimum goal for Slovenia on Sunday, but possible victory would on the other hand strengthen Slovenia's position in the group before another Malta match in June. Scotland and their manager Gordon Strachan desperately need these three points to stay in the race and, in Strachan's case, to survive on Scotland's bench.
Sre?ko Katanec already spoke open about Scotland and described them as a good and fighting side. That is, to be honest, his trademark when it goes to public communication. He is always trying to force a role of an underdog for his team, when not, he is usually struggling with pressure and complaints of being underachiever.
Miran Zore is a Slovenian journalist and editor of football website Nogomania
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