ENGLAND vs SLOVENIA: Benjamin Sesko is out to prove a point against the Three Lions after rejecting transfer interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, who he snubbed to sign a new contract with RB Leipzig
Benjamin Sesko has urged Slovenia’s fans to inspire a historic upset against England.
Some 20,170 Slovenians roared on Matjaz Kek’s side in Munich against Serbia – breaking the national team’s attendance record. Now they’re dreaming of inflicting further misery upon the Three Lions in Cologne.
Sesko said: “It’s incredible to see so many Slovenians in the stadium. It took me some time to process how many people came to support us. I am grateful to them from the bottom of my heart because they know we can go far and achieve great things against England as well, I respect all of the fans.”
RB Leipzig frontman Sesko, who was wanted by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United before signing a new bumper contract with the Bundesliga outfit before flying to Euro 2024, suffered from cramp at the Allianz Arena.
The 21-year-old striker was heading balls inside his own box amidst Serbian pressure, linking play and starting counter-attacks via lung-busting runs up the field before his afternoon was unfortunately cut short.
It was quite the shift from Sesko but he is adamant he will be 100 per cent fit to face England, adding: “I started getting cramps and preferred to come off.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help the team because I always play with heart and give everything for Slovenia, but at that moment, I simply couldn’t continue. I need to prepare for England and I want to play the entire match.”
Slovenia suffered a dagger to the heart when Luka Jovic headed home a 96th-minute equaliser. They would have qualified for the knockout stages with victory, however, Sesko is relishing the chance to put things right against England in their Group C decider.
He concluded: “Everything was fine until the last moment when it all fell apart. We played excellently, but it didn’t end as it should have. The match was incredible.
“We managed our game well. We played beautifully but our concentration dropped and fatigue set in. Sometimes football is like that; we can’t change it. We have one more match ahead of us, and we can still turn things in our favour.”
Midfield maestro Timi Max Elsnik has lauded Sesko’s willingness to carry out the ugly side of the game following two monstrous shifts.
Elsnik, who assisted the opener against Serbia after rattling the post before the break, said: “He is losing a lot of energy when coming back into defence. We need him back there, so he is sacrificing his energy for us. He doesn’t care if he scores, he just wants Slovenia to win. He has so much potential. And he will be the main guy.”
Slovenia have lost five of their previous six meetings with England but they did hold Gareth Southgate’s side to a draw back in 2016 – proof it can be done.
Proud boss Kek said after the gut-wrenching draw on Thursday: “England are the favourites but so were Denmark and Serbia – heads up!”
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