Slovenia seek to keep Estonia at arm's length
Sunday, July 31, 2011
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Well set in second in Group C, Slovenia welcome struggling Estonia in the knowledge that a repeat of their October victory in Tallinn would enhance their qualification claims.
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Slovenia will look to strengthen their grip on second place in the Group C table and end Estonia's interest in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying as the sides meet in Ljubljana.
• Slovenia are five points adrift of section leaders Italy, having played a game more, but three clear of third-ranked Serbia and four above Estonia.
• Slovenia won 1-0 when they met Estonia in Tallinn on 12 October last year, courtesy of Andrei Sidorenkov's 67th-minute own goal. Having made a decent start, Estonia have picked up just one point in three games since that match, culminating in a 2-0 loss in the Faroe Islands in their last competitive fixture on 7 June.
• Slovenia's record in six games against Estonia reads W5 D1 L0 (W3 D0 L0 at home). They have won the nations' last five meetings since drawing 1-1 in their first encounter – a friendly in Tallinn on 3 June 1992 – and have never conceded at home against the Baltic side.
• That friendly was both Slovenia and Estonia's first FIFA-recognised game since independence.
