The Last Crusade: Slovenia v England, Ljubljana

European Championships Qualifier 2016
Group E
Slovenia v England
Sotzice Stadion
Ljubljana, Slovenia
14 June 2015

This is England's fourth encounter with Slovenia and the spoils have gone to England in all the games, P4 W4D0L0:

5 Sep 2009 (Fr), Wembley Stadium (2:1)

23 Jun 2010 (FIFA WC 2010, Gp C), Nelson Mandela Stadium, Port Elizabeth (1:0)

15 Nov 2014 (Euro 16 Qualifier), Wembley Stadium (3:1)

14 Jun 2014 (Euro 16 Qualifier), Stadion Stozice (2:3)

2270 tickets were allocated to the ESTC and there were 3141 applicants so supply had not quite met demand and there had to be a ballot with the cap cut being 16. Plenty of English supporters had made it into the home end so no real dramas.

The Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana is a multi purpose stadium located in the Bezigrad district of Ljubljana just north of the city centre. It has a capacity of 16,038 and is the largest football stadium in the country. The stadium is sunk into the park with only the roof of the stands giving the impression of a crater.

Andros Townsend is making his name as a super-sub coming off the bench to equalise against Italy in Turin in March.

Ljubljana is a beautiful medieval city. On either side of the river Ljubljanica the embankment is full of cafes and restaurants

The view from Tribuna D

Slovenia 2 England 3

Attendance: 15796

The whole stadium is weird to walk
around as it is totally sunken in.

Modern open concourses around the whole stadium

The stadium is home to local team NK Olimpija Ljubljana (2005). At the entrance to the home end (North Stand) is a mural dedicated to 'Arif Fata Behriic', a former official of the club for over 40 years. The club last saw happier times in the Yugoslav league, having success in 1995 when they won the Slovenian league, albeit when they were NK Olimpija Ljubljana (now disolved).

The ultra group 'Green Dragons' was created in 1988

when a fan unfurled a banner with the words

"Green Dragons" written on it.

Laibach was the official German name for the city from the Middle Ages through to 1918. More Green Dragons graffiti.

More reference to 1988 - the foundation
year of the Green Dragons.

One of the main ultras is taking a nap

The crater - long side.

The crater - from behind the goal.

Arena Stozice has a capacity of 12480 seats and is the home to KK Olimpija, RK Krim and ACH Volley (basketball, handball and volleyball).

England Fans Embassy was located just outside the official retail outlet for the Slovenian national football team

Before the kick off England fans arrive in the city centre and start to decorate the river banks of Ljubljana.

The glass bridge is completely transformed.

The great news is that they are selling beer
outside the stadium.

Annoying netting

Sue spots Mick in the crowd.

Slovenian fans to our right.

Day 1 - Lake Bled and the first of many pints of Union at

Penzion Mlino. "Ziveli".

The Pletnas are just opposite our pension
waiting to take tourists around Lake Bled.

Ice cream girl

The Church of the Assumption on Lake Bled circa 1698. The Julian Alps are quite impressive in the background.

Inside the church is a wishing bell that was

installed in the original Gothic Church of 1534

Day 2 - Vintgar Gorge and Bled Castle. The gorge is a 2 Km long ravine carved by rushing waters of the Radovna river which was discovered by chance in 1891. The Mayor of the day was so impressed that he commissioned a committee to look at the possibility of constructing a wooden walkway through the gorge to cater for the increasing number of tourists to Bled.

The wooden walkway opened in 1893,
2 years after its discovery.

Posing at the 16m high Sum Waterfall.

Bled Castle was rebuilt in the 1950s after suffering from looting and several changes of ownership. Originally the 11C strong hold of the Bishop's of Brixen who ruled until 1803.

The view of Bled Island from the castle.

Bled Sports Centre, the home of Slovenian 3rd Division outfit NK Bled Hirter.

St Martin's Parish Church built 1903-05.

Pletna racing to Bled Island

Legend has it that if a husband can carry his newly married bride up the 99 steps from the Dock and into the church he will be blessed with a happy marriage. I didn't see one happy bloke in Bled!

Traditional modes of transport are also available

Bled Bus Station

Day 3 - Ljubljana bound. After a Bus journey of about 2.5 Hours we arrive at our new home, the Adora Hotel in the Old Town of Ljubljana.

The Ljubljanica river flows through the centre of Ljubljana making it an ideal location for a riverside beer.
Our first one is by Cobbler's Bridge.

Jan Komarek's display in front of Cobbler's Bridge,
" River Fairies or Ballerinas"?

Triple Bridge (Tromostovje). Straight ahead is the
Franciscan Church of the Annunciation.

The Central Market on Friday afternoon specialises in local produce and is full of Slovenian vendors selling their wares.

Dragon Bridge facing North across the river.

Rumour has it that Jason and the Argonauts

killed a dragon in the marshes south of the city.

Dragon bridge facing South towards the Central market

Butcher's Bridge where you can come and
pledge your undying love on a padlock.

The England Pub....Unbelievable!

The decor is missing a big Derby Flag, note to self!

SUP (Stand Up Paddling) on the River Ljubljanica.

In congress square we stumbled across the Ljubljana street festival, headlining is the RTV Slovenian Big Band Orchestra.

Our local: The Levstik Pub.

Random Slovenian.

Day 4 - Ljubljana Castle and Old Town

Ljubljana Castle

The view from the Clock Tower with

the stadium in the background

Basketball is very popular in Slovenia - a huge street competition is taking place below us.

Ljubljana's crest is a Dragon sat on top of the castle which is probably adopted from the 15 C Chapel of St George which was located in Ljubljana castle . St George represents the conquering of paganism (slaying of the Dragon) by Christianity. A popular alternative theory is that while Jason and the Argonauts were returning home with the Golden Fleece they came across a dragon in the marshes south of the city. Jason sleuth the dragon and the legend was born.

When you've got, you've got it

The Funicular to the castle.

After all that tourism, it's Union time.

The side door of Ljubljana Cathedral is named the 'Ljubljana Door' and depicts the 20th C bishops of the Ljubljana.

Slovenia kits, home and away

The Front door of the Cathedral is known as the "Slovene Door" and is a depiction of Sloven history to commemorate 1250 years of christianity in Slovenia.

Day 5 - Ljubljana: Roman trail, National Museum and Match Day. Maraton Franja is a cycling event hosted by the Slovenian cycle team 'BTC City' and it just happened to pass by our bedroom window making us feel so unhealthy!

The bridge by the Adora Hotel and Levstikov Trg (Square).

Part of the Roman wall and Gateway to the Roman settlement of Emona (AD 14-25).

Replica of a Gilded statue of an
Emonan aristocrat in Congress Square.

The communist style statue in Republic Square is a 'Monument to Revolution'. Republic Square is where Slovenian independence was announced in 1991.

The National Museum of Slovenia.

The real Roman aristocrat is
housed in the National Museum.

The Museum of Modern Art, on the edge of Tivoli park.

Tivoli Mansion.

The Cooperative bank, made

famous because of its colourful facade.

Ljubljana Street Art.

Day 6 - Postojna Caves. On our penultimate day we take
an excursion to the Postojna Caves by train.

Many Slovenian stations have old steam engines commemorating a glorious past.

After a brisk walk from the station we arrive at the caves.

We start off with a look around the
aquariums to examine the 'Human Fish'.

It was incredible in the caves, but most of the photos didn't come out because we were not allowed to use a flash!

Back at Ljubljana Station

Equestrian statue of General Meister at Zelezniska Postaja. General Meister is the first military figure to be recognised in Slovenia when he led the resistance against the Austrio Hungarian empire to gain independence for Maribor.