Slovenia v Spain, 18 June 2000

Score2-1 to Spain
RefereeMarkus Merk
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Finals Group C
VenueArenA Amsterdam, Amsterdam
Attendance45,000
Kick Off: 18:00 Local (17:00 BST) Assistant referees: Kurt Ertl (Germany) Jaap Pool (Netherlands) Fourth official: Anders Frisk (Sweden) Man of the Match: Raúl (Spain) Spain got their UEFA EURO 2000 campaign back on track with a 2-1 victory over a stubborn Slovenia side in Amsterdam. Spanish nerves, frayed by obstinate Norway during their Group C opener, were quickly calmed by Raúl González's fourth-minute goal. They might have resurfaced after Zlatko Zahovič's equaliser before the hour, but within 60 seconds they were back in front. Gaizka Mendieta weaved his way past four defenders before threading the ball for Joseba Etxeberria to beat Mladen Dabanovič at his near post. Spain will confirm a quarter-final place with victory over Yugoslavia in their final group game, and if that happens Slovenia could join them by beating Norway. They will need to start better than they did in Amsterdam. The game was still in its infancy when Mendieta, Agustín Aranzabal and Josep Guardiola combined to release Míchel Salgado. The full-back's shot was deflected, but the ball ran kindly for Raúl to fire into the top corner. Spain could have doubled their advantage on 13 minute when Juan Carlos Valerón found Alfonso Pérez, but his low shot went narrowly wide. Alfonso then turned provider as his neat flick released Valerón on the right. He in turn found Mendieta, though the defence crowded out the Valencia CF midfielder as he shaped to shoot. Spain were dominant, and looked poised to extend their advantage, but slowly Slovenia gained a foothold. Aleš Čeh's pass was missed by Sašo Udovič close to the penalty spot, but the ball ran to the unmarked Mladen Rudonja whose hesitancy allowed two defenders to block his shot. Rudonja fired over another opportunity following more good work from Čeh and, after Raúl fired narrowly wide at the other end, the striker finally forced Santiago Cañizares into action before the interval. Slovenia's second shot on target brought their equaliser on 59 minutes as Zahovič turned in Rudonja's left-wing cross from ten metres despite colliding with team-mate Milan Osterc, a half-time substitute. Mendieta responded with a moment of magic, though, and Spain did not let the lead slip a second time.

1  Slovenia

Manager: Srecko Katanec

2  Spain

Manager: Jose Antonio Camacho

Goals:

Zlatko Zahovič 59 G

Goals:

Raúl 5 G
Etxeberria 60 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Mladen Dabanovič
Defender Marinko Galič
Defender Darko Milanič (captain)
Midfielder Aleš Ceh
Midfielder Amir Karič
Midfielder Džoni Novak
Midfielder Miran Pavlin
Midfielder Mladen Rudonja
Midfielder Zlatko Zahovič
Forward Sašo Udovič

Starting lineup:

Cañizares Goalkeeper
Abelardo Defender
Aranzábal Defender
Hierro Defender (captain)
Guardiola Midfielder
Mendieta Midfielder
Valerón Midfielder
Alfonso Forward
Etxeberria Forward
Raúl Forward

Substitutions:

Milan Osterc for Sašo Udovič 46
Aleksander Knavs for Darko Milanič 67
Milenko Ačimovič for Miran Pavlin 81

Substitutions:

Urzáiz for Alfonso 70
Helguera for Guardiola 80
Engonga for Valerón 87

Cards:

Miran Pavlin 11 Y
Darko Milanič 24 Y
Džoni Novak 53 Y
Amir Karič 85 Y

Cards:

Aranzábal 62 Y
Helguera 82 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Dejan Nemec
Goalkeeper Marko Simeunovič
Defender Spasoje Bulajič
Defender Rudi Istenič
Defender Aleksander Knavs
Midfielder Milenko Ačimovič
Midfielder Saša Gajser
Midfielder Zoran Pavlović
Midfielder Tonci Zlogar
Forward Milan Osterc
Forward Ermin Siljak

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas
Goalkeeper Jose Molina
Defender Paco
Defender Sergi
Defender Velasco
Midfielder Engonga
Midfielder Fran
Midfielder Gerard
Midfielder Helguera
Forward Munitis
Forward Urzáiz

1  Slovenia

Manager: Srecko Katanec

Goals:

Zlatko Zahovič 59 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Mladen Dabanovič
Defender Marinko Galič
Defender Darko Milanič (captain)
Midfielder Aleš Ceh
Midfielder Amir Karič
Midfielder Džoni Novak
Midfielder Miran Pavlin
Midfielder Mladen Rudonja
Midfielder Zlatko Zahovič
Forward Sašo Udovič

Substitutions:

Milan Osterc for Sašo Udovič 46
Aleksander Knavs for Darko Milanič 67
Milenko Ačimovič for Miran Pavlin 81

Cards:

Miran Pavlin 11 Y
Darko Milanič 24 Y
Džoni Novak 53 Y
Amir Karič 85 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Dejan Nemec
Goalkeeper Marko Simeunovič
Defender Spasoje Bulajič
Defender Rudi Istenič
Defender Aleksander Knavs
Midfielder Milenko Ačimovič
Midfielder Saša Gajser
Midfielder Zoran Pavlović
Midfielder Tonci Zlogar
Forward Milan Osterc
Forward Ermin Siljak

2  Spain

Manager: Jose Antonio Camacho

Goals:

Raúl 5 G
Etxeberria 60 G

Starting lineup:

Cañizares Goalkeeper
Abelardo Defender
Aranzábal Defender
Hierro Defender (captain)
Guardiola Midfielder
Mendieta Midfielder
Valerón Midfielder
Alfonso Forward
Etxeberria Forward
Raúl Forward

Substitutions:

Urzáiz for Alfonso 70
Helguera for Guardiola 80
Engonga for Valerón 87

Cards:

Aranzábal 62 Y
Helguera 82 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas
Goalkeeper Jose Molina
Defender Paco
Defender Sergi
Defender Velasco
Midfielder Engonga
Midfielder Fran
Midfielder Gerard
Midfielder Helguera
Forward Munitis
Forward Urzáiz