Match story
- Slovenia fired more attempts (24 vs 8 shots).
- Latvia was more accurate in front of goal (50% on target vs 21%).
- Slovenia held more of the ball (70% possession).
Slovenia defeated Latvia 1-0 in Euro Championship. The fixture is part of the Qualifying Round - 9 stage in the 2020 season. The match was played at Stadion Stožice in Ljubljana. R. Petrescu officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Slovenia vs Latvia meeting in Euro Championship with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Slovenia and Latvia. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Euro ChampionshipRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
According to reports, Spain and Argentina could face off in November for the Finalissima, following the Europeans' victory in the 2026 World Cup final. Just days after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the 2026 World Cup, courtesy of a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute, the two sides could be headed for a rematch before the year is out. According to a report from Argentina’s ESPN and DSports, the long-postponed Finalissima between the reigning Copa America and European champions is being revived for later this year. The Finalissima was originally slated to be played in March, pitting Copa America winners Argentina against Euro 2024 champions Spain, but the match was suspended amid the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel in the Middle East. With broadcast and commercial contracts already signed with the Qatari government for a fixture at Lusail Stadium in Doha, both CONMEBOL and UEFA have kept the door open to staging the game before it expires. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin are reportedly in talks to find a workable date on the calendar, with two FIFA windows under consideration: September 21 to October 6, or November 9 to 17. Lamine Yamal lifts the World Cup trophy. (Getty Images) A rematch would give both Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal another shot at facing off just months after their World Cup final meeting, this time with the Finalissima trophy on the line, a title Argentina already won in 2022 by thrashing Italy 3-0. The match could also serve as a potential farewell for Messi in an Argentina shirt, in case he hasn’t already played his last game at MetLife Stadium during the World Cup final, as he has yet to say whether the final was his last game with the national team. Spain’s potential scheduling conflict Playing the Finalissima this year isn’t without its complications, particularly for Spain. Between September, October and November, La Roja are already committed to UEFA Nations League fixtures against England, Croatia and Czechia, leaving little obvious room on the calendar for an extra match. Since the Nations League is a UEFA-run competition, though, the confederation could still rework Spain’s fixture schedule to carve out a window for the Finalissima. Argentina, for its part, is set to return to action between September 21 and October 6 for its next FIFA window, when it could play up to four matches.
Although they weren't considered top contenders, Spain managed to defeat Argentina, ending a 16-year drought by winning the 2026 World Cup. With this victory, they broke four records in the tournament. Spain established as the best team of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Showing admirable consistency, Luis de la Fuente’s team defeated Argentina in a highly competitive match. Led by Ferran Torres, they ended a 16-year drought since their last World Cup title, edging their second-ever title in the competition. Not only did they return to being a brilliant side, but they also managed to break four major records along the way. According to Guinness World Records, via X, formerly Twitter, Spain have managed to break four World Cup records: Most clean sheets – 7, Fewest goals conceded – 1, Oldest Manager to win the World Cup – Luis de la Fuente, and Longest unbeaten run in competitive men’s matches – 38. With these records, they highlight their greatest strength: They do not rely on a single player, but rather on a solid collective. Head coach Luis de la Fuente built his team very differently from the others. While some prioritized building an attacking side, he decided to focus on defensive solidity. Led by Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte, they became the team with the fewest goals conceded. In addition, Marc Cucurella and Rodri also contributed greatly to the team’s stability. Alongside them, Unai Simón returned to shine as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Spain’s undefeated streak puts them ahead of Italy After losing the UEFA Nations League final on penalties, Spain appeared to lose their status as favorites ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, head coach Luis de la Fuente managed to establish a winning dynamic, accumulating 38 consecutive matches without defeat in regulation time. Following this, they have surpassed Italy, the last national team to establish such a streak for several years. Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain lifts the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy From 2018 to 2021, Italy accumulated a run of 37 unbeaten matches. While Luis de la Fuente’s team had already matched that record after defeating France, they have now extended it, setting a new mark. Spain’s last defeat came on March 22, 2024, when they lost 1–0 against Colombia in a friendly match in London. Luis de la Fuente: The mastermind behind Spain’s youth rise After the dismissal of Luis Enrique, the supporters foresaw a somewhat bleak future for Spain. However, the Spanish Soccer Federation decided to turn to Luis de la Fuente. Without extensive experience in clubs or senior national teams, he took charge of the national team. Demonstrating his knowledge of the youth ranks, he rebuilt the roster, winning UEFA Nations League, UEFA Euro and World Cup, a historic path. Luis de la Fuente based much of his sporting project on Spain’s youth categories. After coaching every level of the national setup, he got to know first-hand all of the young talents such as Pau Cubarsí, Pedri, Gavi, Mikel Merino, Álex Baena, and more current stars. Relying on a possession-based style built around the wings, he excelled, maintaining a solid defense that allowed them to shine. Despite not arriving at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with much recognition, Luis de la Fuente is already considered by many supporters to be the greatest coach in Spain’s history. Not only did they win every trophy, but he also gave the team a highly dominant style of play, something that will remain in history. While the players are hugely important, it was the head coach who shaped the history of the national team.
Slavko Vincic has been assigned as the referee for the 2026 World Cup final, prompting questions on his record with Lionel Messi's Argentina and Lamine Yamal's Spain. The 2026 World Cup final is rapidly approaching, and every minor detail surrounding Sunday’s grand finale at MetLife Stadium will be under the global microscope. FIFA recently announced that Slovenian official Slavko Vincic has been appointed to referee the tournament’s deciding match. The high-profile assignment has immediately sparked discussion regarding his historical track record with Lionel Messi‘s Argentina and Lamine Yamal’s Spain. Vincic, 46, has put together a distinguished international career since first earning his FIFA badge in 2010, regularly calling marquee matchups in Europe and on the international stage. At the club level, his impressive resume is highlighted by officiating the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, as well as the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. The Slovenian official made his World Cup debut in Qatar, where he was assigned to two matches, and has added another three assignments to his tally during the 2026 tournament. Sunday’s highly anticipated final will mark his sixth career World Cup match, and his fourth of this current campaign, representing the absolute pinnacle of his officiating career. Yamal’s Spain record with Vincic Given his status as one of UEFA’s top referees, Vincic has had numerous opportunities to oversee Spain in competitive European fixtures. His history with La Roja dates back to a 2017 friendly against Colombia, followed by group-stage duties at Euro 2020 against Sweden, and a UEFA Nations League semifinal clash against Italy in 2023, though all of those matches predated Lamine Yamal‘s international breakthrough. The match officials for @FIFAWorldCup Final have been appointed. 🤝— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 16, 2026 However, Vincic has been the man in the middle for two significant matches in Yamal’s young international career. Both occurred during Spain‘s triumphant Euro 2024 campaign, starting with a 1-0 group-stage win over Italy and followed by the 2-1 semifinal victory against France, where the teenage winger scored his famous long-range equalizer. Vincic’s record with Messi’s Argentina Due to the geographical divide, Vincic has naturally crossed paths with Argentina far less frequently than Spain. Yet, the Slovenian referee was at the whistle for one of the most shocking and painful moments in modern Argentine soccer history. The only time Vincic has refereed the Albiceleste was during their opening group-stage match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In that game, Saudi Arabia pulled off a historic 2-1 upset, snapping Argentina’s legendary 36-match unbeaten streak and marking the only time Messi’s side has ever lost with Vincic on the pitch. Lionel Messi of Argentina speaks with referee Slavko Vincic. Despite the final scoreline, the refereeing decisions on that day actually favored the South American champions early on. In just the seventh minute, Vincic awarded Argentina a penalty after Leandro Paredes was pulled down during a corner kick, a decision that was heavily debate, allowing Messi to open the scoring, before he went on to hand out six yellow cards to Saudi Arabian players while keeping his book clean for the Argentines.
Making their final appearance before jetting off to North America, Croatia will welcome Slovenia to Varazdin on Sunday night. With the 2026 World Cup officially set to get underway next week, you can explore all of the most attractive betting promotions and bonuses that available. Verdict: Croatia win Best Odds: 2/5 Bookmaker: BetUS Croatia Starting […] The post Prediction: Croatia vs Slovenia appeared first on SoccerNews.
Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik has been included in BBC Sport's Championship team of the season. The Slovenian scored a total of 25 goals in his second season with Swansea - of which 23 goals were scored in 43 league games. Two former Swansea City players were also recognised after helping their respective clubs secure promotion to the Premier League.
While there is no denying the magnitude of his achievements, his legacy is also tied up in politics, propaganda and hard powerWell, that’s that then. Put out more flags. Mount the iconic Jedi‑style woollen cardigan in the club museum. He really does seem to be done this time.In the absence of formal denials, it now seems highly likely the scheduled final year of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City contract will be spent trawling the high-concept food ateliers of the Iberian peninsula, debating spatial architecture with a Slovenian Cluedo grandmaster over hummingbird martinis, and generally recharging after a decade of unceasing devotion to victory. Continue reading...
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic spoke about Luka Modric’s injury ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Luka Modric will miss the remainder of the 2025–26 season with AC Milan due to a fracture of the left cheekbone that required surgery. That raised concerns for the Croatia national team given the proximity of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a situation Zlatko Dalic addressed. “I’ve been talking to Luka and wished him a successful surgery and a quality and speedy recovery,” the Croatia head coach said this week, just hours after news of the midfielder’s injury broke, according to BBC Sport. Dalic struck an optimistic tone regarding Modric’s recovery timeline: “I am convinced that he will do everything to be ready for the World Cup, and we’ll provide full support. I am confident that the recovery will go according to plan and that Luka, as team captain, will lead us at another major competition this summer.” Modric underwent surgery on Monday at La Madonnina Clinic in Milan, performed by Dr. Luca Autelitano’s team, with successful results. The midfielder now faces a recovery process estimated at six to eight weeks. Luka Modric of AC Milan. Modric’s timeline ahead of the 2026 World Cup With confirmation that he will miss AC Milan’s final four matches of the 2025-26 Serie A season, Luka Modric’s recovery from cheekbone surgery is now fully focused on the Croatia national team. By the time Dalic announces the final 26-man roster traveling to North America at the end of May, the midfielder will have completed roughly one month of recovery, providing a much clearer picture of his availability. At that point, in a worst-case scenario, Modric would be around halfway through his recovery timeline. In a more optimistic scenario, he could already be nearing a return to training—an important factor considering that, at 40 years old, he cannot afford to spend too much time away from regular sessions. Croatia’s road to the World Cup Once the 26-man squad is finalized, Croatia are set to travel to North America in early June to prepare for the tournament. They will first play two final warm-up matches: against Belgium on June 2, and five days later against Slovenia. Croatia will open their 2026 World Cup campaign against England on June 17 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in what is expected to be their toughest group-stage match. They will then face Panama on June 23 and Ghana on June 27.
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