Disappeared from the radar since his serious post-Covid depression and his departure from Atalanta in 2022, Josip Ilicic played again with Slovenia this Tuesday during the victory against Armenia (2-1) in a friendly. The 36-year-old playmaker has found a smile again and will even play Euro 2024 with his selection.
A sure bet in Serie A for almost ten years and playing master of Atalanta for several seasons, Josip Ilicic left Bergamo in August 2022 after several months of heavy depression that began at the time of the Covid epidemic. Having fallen back into relative anonymity for almost two years, the Slovenian has nevertheless regained a taste for football and has just returned to the selection, almost three years after his last appearance in the national team, in November 2021. He is thus included in the group selected for Euro 2024 played in Germany from June 14 to July 14.
Better, for his first match with the national team, the 36-year-old veteran scored the winning goal this Tuesday against Armenia (2-1) in a friendly match. Returning a few minutes earlier in place of Bordeaux’s Zan Vipotnik, Josip Ilicic benefited from an opening in depth to find himself in the opposing area. With a beautiful inside hook, the winger eliminated the defender who came to meet him then fired a left shot. Unstoppable.
A return home as a resurrection
Clearly, Josip Ilicic has lost none of his technique and obviously his physique still allows him to provide some services to Slovenia. But before returning to the selection on the sidelines of Euro 2024, the Slovenian redid his cherry in the country.
Returning to Maribor in November 2022, his last club before his exile in Italy with Palermo then Fiorentina, the attacking midfielder has regained his taste for football.
If certain physical glitches prevented him from playing more than 14 matches during the 2022-2023 campaign, the former Dea still scored two goals and provided two assists. Above all, it gave him a good dose of confidence. Better in his head and finally left alone by his body, Josip Ilicic managed to string together matches in 2023-2024.
Appearing 36 times in all competitions this year, the playmaker scored 9 goals and offered 12 caviars to his partners. In good form since April with a goal and six goals, he helped Maribor finish in a good second place in the championship, synonymous with qualification for the preliminary rounds of the Europa League. A return to favor welcomed by national coach Matjaz Kek who decided to take him to Germany for Euro 2024. A confidence to which Josip Ilicic responded in the best possible way with a decisive goal this Tuesday.
Jean-Guy Lebreton Journalist RMC Sport
