FIFA World Cup 2018
European Qualifying Group F
Stozice Stadium
Ljubljana, Slovenia
11 October 2016
A lot has happened since the last game. Big Sam has got the sack following a daily Telegraph 'Sting' operation and Gareth Southall has come in to cover an initial 4 match period. His first outing ended in a safe but uninspired 2:0 victory over the mighty Malta at Wembley. Its never dull following England! Above is a copy of the official programme, free to all on seats in the stadium but watch out for the hoarders/ Ebay sellers
The English language pirate version of the match day programme, a steal at €5
The FA managed to sell about 1800 official travel club tickets from an allocation that was over 2200. Many members who initially registered had declined the offer and others had reasons ranging from recent performances, lack of holidays and Ljubljana only visited last summer.
The story of the day was that interim manager Gareth Southgate has kept Rooney on the bench in favour of Dele Alli. The game finishes in a 0:0 draw which keeps England at the top of the group, but to be fair England ride their luck to escape with a point. Joe Hart made a string of world class saves, including a bullet of a header that was zooming into the top left hand corner which he managed to keep out with a double save. Quite incredible. Rooney and Lingard come close for England in the last 10 minutes with two fine strikes from distance.
Slovenia v England
Day 1 - Swimming in Piran in October
Early morning swim in October
View from hotel room
Piran coast
Hotel Piran
Church of our Lady of Health of St Clement
Church of St George
St George's Bell Tower - Rickety staircase but stunning views
Fishing boat on the path to Fiesa Bay
The Walls of Piran
Part of the 200m long stretch of wall built in 1470
On one side the best views of Piran
On the other...wait a minute is that a football ground?
NK Portoroz Piran are in the 4th tier of Slovenian football (MNZ Koper), a regional league
Things are looking up, they've got a new coach
..and a Bar + 750 spectators can cram in to this gem
Church of St Francis's
Tartinijev Square
Piran's port
Kalamari and Aperol Spritzer's for lunch
Portoroz
You can't teach someone to take photos like this!
Sundowners at the Hotel Piran
Day 2 - Predjama,
Koper and Izola
Predjama Castle
Film set where Jackie Chan nearly fell to his death in the double take of a stunt he'd already successfully completed!
Bridge to the cave
Cave leading to the 'Robber Baron' (Erasmus's) secret tunnel
On the return journey from Predjama we visit Koper the Bonfika Stadium; home of FC Koper
The Stadium was built in 1948 and has a capacity of 4047 but the record attendance is 10000 for FC Koper v Olimpija.
Scotland played here in 2012 in a friendly, drawing 1-1.
The Slovenian national team have played here four times, Uruguay (2001), Georgia (2010),
Scotland (2012) and Macedonia in March (2016).
Posh seats
Gate to the Old Town
Presernov Square and De Ponte Fountain
Taverna - named because of all the Inns that used to cluster around it
Bell Tower and Cathedral on Titov Square
Praetorian Palace on Tito Square
Home made cooking
Next town up is Izola
Izola Pizza Place
Izola Harbour
A tadge blustery for walking on the prom
or kite surfing
Church of St Mary of Haliaetum, Manzioli Square
Shops back on to the Izola City Stadium
The stadium has a capacity of 5085
.....and a Bar
The home of MNK Izola (used to be NK Izola) who now play in the SNL League 3 (West)
MNK Izola go through a training session at the Izola City Stadium
Back in Piran for farewell drinks
Day 3 - Ljubljana (matchday)
Road trip up the A1 to Ljubljana
We arrive at our destination
Hotel Adora
Castle view outside of our bedroom window
HQ Slovenian FA
Glass Bridge
Franciscan Church of the Annunciation
City Hotel - selling programmes
First one of many
Triple Bridge
The Boys
Butchers' Bridge and our Padlock from last year. Arrr!
Gary, me and Paul from Zagreb
Smithy and Sue
Stozice Stadium was opened in 2010 and is the largest football stadium in Slovenia with a capacity of 16,000
Me, Tommo and Gary
Slovenians to our right
View from England end
Paul (Taxi cab commanderI) in race to the stadium
Hearts and minds
Getting Tangoed!
Joe Hart's amazing save in the top left corner
The Brummie 'Chuckle Brothers'
The shuttle Busses were a little packed!
Day 4 - Lipica
Waiting for our guide at the Lippizaner stud in Lipica
Sue in her element
Lunging exercises on the Hippodrome
Entrance to the old stables
Erm, this one doesn't move much!
At last we find the herd
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