The next meetings of the Slovenian board risk being tense. After aligning themselves on four different classification criteria (number of points, direct confrontation, goal difference, number of goals scored) at the end of the Pool C matches, Denmark and Slovenia were decided by UEFA in favor of Christian Eriksen’s teammates.
European football’s body confirmed Denmark’s qualification for the round of 16 as second in Group C, citing a difference in “disciplinary points”, on its website. However, six yellow cards were distributed on both sides on the pitch during the first three matches.
But as we explained to you this morning, the fair play ranking of the two teams was decided by an additional yellow card… addressed to a member of the Slovenian staff. Milivoje Novakovic, assistant coach to Francesco Calzona, was indeed guilty of behavior deemed inappropriate and punished with a yellow card by the referee of the Slovenia-Denmark match (1-1). A decision, usually neglected, which, this time, was of great importance and which should weigh heavily on the conscience of the former international.
The consequences are still not dramatic for Slovenia, which nevertheless remains qualified for the round of 16 as best third. Especially since Denmark did not inherit an easy round of 16 either with this second place in the group, since they will face a Germany in form and at home on Saturday June 29. The Slovenes will have to face Portugal, Belgium, Ukraine, Romania or Slovakia in the next round.
