Jaka Bijol helped Slovenia contain Cristiano Ronaldo - now the Roma-linked centre-back is hoping to keep Harry Kane & Co. quiet at Euro 2024 too

For starters, he was lucky to avoid a lengthier spell on the sidelines after suffering a foot fracture in a Serie A clash with Roma last November. Even still, he spent three months out of action with what was his first serious injury as a professional.

"It's hard when you have to stop playing football for a long time," he admits in an exclusive interview with GOAL, "but I knew that I would be back for the Euros and that I would still have a lot of time to prepare myself and to get back into my rhythm.

"So, I was never really scared that I would miss the Euros. I just thought, 'Right, let's use this opportunity to come back stronger than before' - and I think I managed to do that."

There were nonetheless doubts over his sharpness and match fitness when he joined up with the Slovenia squad for the March internationals having only just returned to action for Udinese.

However, in just his second start at any level since his lay-off, Bijol played a pivotal role in a shock - but fully-deserved - 2-0 win over Portugal. For both Bijol and his colleagues, doing such a successful job of frustrating Cristiano Ronaldo - to the point where the Seleccao skipper began lashing out at the officials - was quite the confidence boost.

"He's obviously one of the greatest players of all time and he’s still in form, too," the centre-back says. "You can still see his hunger for goals. I really respect the fact that he always wants to score in every game, and that he wants to win every game. I think that’s one of the things that make him so great.

"But our whole team managed to contain him and everyone had a really good game against Portugal. And we weren't just good without the ball, we were also very good with it. It was definitely one of our best performances since I've been with the national team."

Consequently, Slovenia have arrived in Germany quietly confident of reaching the knockout stage of a major international tournament for the first time in the country's history.

The odds are obviously against them. England are one of the favourites to go all the way, Denmark won Slovenia's qualifying group, while Serbia's sheer unpredictability makes them incredible dangerous.

"Look, we know our group is really difficult, but we are positive about our chances," Bijol says. "Not matter what, I know that we are going to do everything possible to get good results, so I really do think we have a shot at making the knockout stage."

Their opening game will likely be decisive, and Matjaz Kek's players are taking heart from the knowledge that they can cause Denmark problems. Slovenia held the 1992 champions to a draw in Ljubljana before suffering a narrow 2-1 loss in Copenhagen that saw the Danes progress as group winners on account of their superior head-to-head record.

It's also worth noting that Slovenia actually scored one more goal in the qualifiers than the Scandinavians (20), and conceded one fewer too (nine). Consequently, Bijol firmly believes that they can compete at the very highest level. They won't want for motivation, that's for sure.

"The Euros is a really big thing for us, something we've been chasing for a long time," he says. "We worked really hard to make it happen and, in the end, we succeeded. So, now we can enjoy ourselves a little bit.

"But we are also going to Germany to get good results and to do our nation proud. We also expect to have a lot of fans there supporting us and that should help a lot."

Bijol also takes enormous encouragement out of the fact that, in Atletico Madrid No.1 Jan Oblak and RB Leipzig's much-coveted striker Benjamin Sesko, Slovenia unquestionably have two players capable of lighting up the tournament.

"Jan is easily one of the best goalkeepers in the world," the defender says. "He transmits so much confidence - and not only to the backline but to the whole team. When you have a goalkeeper like that behind you, life is always a little bit easier. It allows you to play with greater security and belief. He's so important to the team in that sense.

"As for Sesko, he is one of the biggest talents in the world, there can be no doubt about that. In fact, I think he is already one of the best strikers in the world. And he has the potential, and all of the skills, to become even better in the next few years. He's just so good, technically and physically. He could do great things."

But what about Bijol himself? He was linked with Roma during the 2023-24 campaign, as a long-term replacement for Chris Smalling, and there has been talk in recent weeks that Serie A champions Inter are also mulling over a move for a tough-tackling, ball-playing centre-back who is excellent in the air and very comfortable on the ball.

The Euros obviously represents a golden opportunity for such a talented player to put himself in the shop window during the summer market. A strong showing against a top-class forward (Kane, for example!) certainly wouldn't do his chances of a big-money move to a top team any harm at all.

"I'm happy at Udinese and now is not the time to be thinking about other clubs, but the Euros is definitely a big chance to show how good you are," he acknowledges. "A lot of people watch these games and I’m going to do everything I can to who I am, and what I'm about.

"Harry Kane is certainly one of the top-five strikers in the world. He scores goals everywhere he goes. He plays the game so intelligently. He knows when and how to show for the ball, and where to find spaces in between defenders. So, it will be a great challenge for us trying to contain him!"

Still, Bijol's Slovenia have already managed to keep Ronaldo quiet. Why not Kane, and Vlahovic, and Hojlund, too?