Slovenia coach B.Cesar announced the squad for the June friendlies, with 16-year-old Tjaš Nai Kujundžić receiving his first call-up.
The Slovenian national team will prepare for two friendly matches in June: against Cyprus at Stožice on June 5th at 00:00 Beijing time (CEST), and against Croatia in Varaždin on June 8th at 02:45 Beijing time (CEST). The match against Cyprus will be B.Cesar's first leading the team in front of home fans, following a 0-1 away loss to Hungary and a 3-2 victory over Montenegro at the end of March. For Croatia, the match against Slovenia will be their final warm-up before heading to the North American World Cup from June 11th to July 19th.
At the press conference announcing the squad, there were only a few media representatives, just 4 journalists, even fewer than the 6 Slovenian Football Association staff present due to work requirements. Slovenia's star player, Benjamin Šeško, was absent due to injury. Players called up for the first time include 16-year-old Tjaš Nai Kujundžić and Ester Sokler. Kujundžić is the son of former Slovenian national team captain Robert Kujundžić.
Regarding the squad list,
B.Cesar said: "This list is based on our continuous observation of all players. I am very much looking forward to this training camp, to seeing the players again, preparing well, making the most of every training session, and playing well in both matches. These two matches are preparation for September, when we will have four Nations League qualifiers, so we must seize every opportunity to improve, because the national team doesn't have much preparation time."
Regarding goalkeeper Oblak,
B.Cesar stated: "Jan will be ready, he doesn't have any major problems."
Regarding the first-time call-up Tjaš Nai Kujundžić,
B.Cesar said: "I have never seen a player as talented as Tjaš Nai Kujundžić. He is very fast, plays directly towards the goal, has a low center of gravity, excellent game reading ability, and is good at utilizing space. In a wide position, he can contribute a lot to the national team's game."
B.Cesar continued: "I have been following Kujundžić for a while, and he had a very good season at Club Brugge. I had the privilege of seeing him every week when I coached in Maribor, and he improved every day, every game. I have never seen such a talented player. He is very fast, plays directly towards the goal, has a low center of gravity, excellent game reading ability, and is good at utilizing space. In a wide position, he can contribute a lot to the national team's game."
Regarding bringing a 16-year-old player into the national team, B.Cesar said: "I have no concerns. Šeško also joined the national team at a very young age and developed quickly. I have many contacts in Europe and I am very aware of what is happening with Kujundžić; his progress is evident. Yamal also played for Spain at 16 and grew into an excellent player, so I believe Tjaš can follow this path. Everything will come in time."
Regarding Sokler,
B.Cesar said: "I noticed him when I was an assistant to the previous coach Kek. For the past three years, he has consistently shown good form, being selected for the best XI numerous times, and he deserves for me to see him in person."
Regarding another player, B.Cesar said: "In terms of ability, he could have been in the first-team squad in March this year, but due to the needs of the U21 national team, he played qualifiers for the U21s."
The Slovenian national team will wear new jerseys in June. The new jerseys have slight adjustments compared to the previous version, with Mount Triglav still at the center, an element that has been on the jersey for over 20 years. Below the peak is a symbolic heart shape, the only red element on the jersey. The design reflects the connection between the national team and the homeland, as well as the passion and dedication of the players when representing the country. The surnames and numbers on the jerseys use the "Plečnik" font, inspired by the hand-drawn letters of architect Jože Plečnik, adding traditional Slovenian elements to the jersey.
Regarding the goals for the two friendly matches, B.Cesar said: "I hope the team will improve compared to their performance in March. I plan to add some elements to the game content, play at a high level in both matches, and achieve positive results. Against Hungary, we played well for the first 50 minutes, then there were some small dips and individual errors in the game. Against Montenegro, our defense was a bit weaker, as we conceded two goals, but we scored three in attack. I hope we become better in all aspects of the game. Many things will depend on how much space the opponent gives us. Especially since it's my first time leading the team in front of home fans, we want to show a good image. Against Croatia is a neighboring derby, but I'm more concerned about how we will play against a top national team; Croatia has achieved extraordinary results in the last two World Cups. This will give us extra motivation."
Regarding the Slovenian domestic league, B.Cesar said: "Congratulations to Celje for deservedly winning their third domestic league title; they were very dominant, securing the championship five rounds early, showing the most. Also, praise to cup winners Aluminij, as well as Koper and Bravo. Olimpija and Maribor, however, made mistakes. Compared to clubs, I am more focused on the players and their performance on the field."