Ljubljana - Slovenia put on a "brilliant performance" to defeat Russia Wednesday night and secure its second World Cup appearance next year, Ljubljana press said Thursday. With the 1-0 home win, following a 2-1 away loss on Saturday in World Cup qualification playoffs, the former Yugoslav republic of 2 million has denied Russia a place in South Africa next year thanks to the away goals rule.
Among those watching the match in Maribor were Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the Slovenian state leadership.
"A brilliant show: South Africa, we are coming," "Heart larger than Russia," "Slovenia on its second World Cup" and "Politics only on half-time," were some of the typical headlines Thursday.
After the match, Prime Minister Borut Pahor visited the Slovenian dressing room, telling reporters later that he had met his promise to clean the shoes of the entire team.
"Yes, as I promised a month ago, I did clean our players' shoes right after the match, even if I couldn't do a very good job in such a short time," he said. The influential daily Dnevnik said Slovenia was travelling "To South Africa in shiny cleats.
A columnist in the Delo newspaper thanked the Slovenian team for doing "what nobody else could - you united Slovenia and helped this generation build its self-confidence."
Aside from the euphoria, there were several voices criticizing Russia's coach, Dutchman Guus Hiddink.
"Hiddink showed himself as a coward," former Slovenia coach and long-time professional Branko Oblak was quoted as saying. "His play set-up and tactics turned him and his team into laughing stock.
Oblak also criticized Russia's and Arsenal's star player, striker Andrey Archavin, saying: "He was totally lost, he isn't a player for big games - and this was one.
Stressing that Slovenia "fully deserved its triumph, coach Matjaz Kek said he thought he "deserved a handshake after the match."
