SLOVENIA
--------

Current FIFA Ranking: 45
European championship appearances: 0
European championship record: 0-0-0
European championship goals for/against: 0-0
Best performance: Qualifying (2000)

Colors (shirt-shorts-socks): white-white-white (reserve; green-blue-blue)

COACH: Srecko Katanec

KEY PLAYERS: Zlatko Zahovic (Olympiacos Piraeus), Milenko
Acimovic (Red Star Belgrade)

OUTLOOK:

A surprise Euro 2000 qualifier ahead of Greece as runner-up 
to Norway in Group 2, Slovenia defeated Ukraine in a 
two-match aggregate playoff (2-1 and 1-1).

It is hard to believe this underdog could pull any surprises 
in a potent Group C which includes Spain, Norway and 
Yugoslavia.  Any point earned will be an achievement.

Soccer is not the most popular sport in the small breakaway 
country, formerly part of Yugoslavia, with a population of 
roughly two million. Skiing and basketball always have been 
the main sports.

Striker Zlatko Zahovic is by far Slovenia's star player.  A good 
coordinator and scorer, he tallied nine goals in 11 games in 
the qualifying stages.  The 29-year-old lefty made his name at
FC Porto and is now earning his money in Greece at Olympiakos
Piraeus.

Milenko Acimovic, an attacking midfielder, scored Slovenia's 
goal in the decisive match at Ukraine from about 50 yards.  

At 37, Srecko Katanec is the youngest coach in Euro 2000.
Many of his top players did not play regularly for their 
respective club teams and have little international match 
experience.

st 06-09-00 13:17 et