In the one-eighth final of the UEFA European Cup on July 2, the Slovenian team performed well, but finally defeated Portugal in the penalty shootout, regretting to stop outside the eight-finals. After the match, Slovenia's head coach, Kike, was interviewed, expressing his feelings about the outcome of the match and his outlook for the future.
Keck began by candidly stating that the loss was naturally bittersweet. However, he also saw some positive aspects from the match and believes that this experience can be the starting point for the future of Slovenian soccer. He was positive about the players' performance in the match, believing that they proved the value and significance of playing for the Slovenian national team.
Speaking about his opponents, Portugal, Keck expressed his respect. He praised Portugal as a team that knows how to win on penalties and acknowledged that their victory was well deserved. At the same time, he expressed his regret for the outcome of the match, especially apologizing for the fans who were full of expectation and support.
Reviewing the course of the match, Keck said that Portugal took control of the game in the beginning, but the Slovenians did not give up and gradually got into the groove. He spoke highly of the players' fighting spirit and teamwork and believes they will do better in future matches.
Looking ahead, Keck said that despite the unsatisfactory result of the tournament, the future of Slovenian soccer is still full of hope. He encouraged the players to learn from the experience and lessons from this tournament and to prepare for future matches. At the same time, he also called on the domestic soccer community and fans to continue to support the Slovenian national team and jointly contribute to the development of Slovenian soccer.
