Poulsen: "Slovenia shows promise"

Once a competitive force in international football, today just a pale shadow of once a team with big hearth. Slovenia was one of the smallest nations to ever play in EURO and WC in a row. Their team was built mostly of second-grade players, who didn't get much chance in theire clubs. Recently the picture is reverse. Players are successful in various European clubs, but the teams performance is of a very poor standard, with no will to win. Until now...

After many thought Denmark to be in total control of the match, Slovenia team showed that they are not to be taken lightly. At the start of the match the teams ware very equal until a suspicious penalty awarded to Denmark. WBA player Boštjan Cesar clearly went fore the ball and not the player, but the referee didn't see it that way. Jon Dahl Tomasson was accurate from the penalty spot, putting his team in front by one goal. Only seven minutes later Amer Jukan, a debutant in Slovenian jersey, passed a ball to Milivoje Novakovič, who set a score to 1-1. With the first half over, Slovenia seemed equal if not even a better opponent. In the second half Denmark finaly pulled them selves togather and play a little better. Although both teams performance was poor, unefficient and unatractive in the second half, Denmark managed to put in a little extra and set the final score of 1-2 through Bendtner in 63rd minute.

Dannish star Christian Poulsen said he was surprised by Slovenia. "It has been a difficult game. Slovenia and Denmark are not going to compete in EURO, so we both wanted to win and prove ourselfs. I think we played a good game and I'm pleased with the result. Slovenia was a pleasant surprise to me and I can say that it's a good team" he said for Nogomania.com and went on: "I think there are many young players in Slovenia squad. I see that, like us, they are putting togather a new team and I think they have a bright future ahead of them, because they posses a lot of quality."