Koren looking to kick on

Slovenia skipper has his sights set on England

Last updated: 21st June 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Koren looking to kick on

Koren: In confident mood

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Robert Koren sees no reason why Slovenia should be fearful of England ahead of their crunch clash.

Matjaz Kek's men are set to lock horns with the Three Lions in an all or nothing encounter on Wednesday.

England know only victory in Port Elizabeth will be enough to see them into the knockout stages, while Slovenia enter the game looking for a only a point to reach the last 16.

Having seen off Algeria and held the United States in their opening two Group C fixtures, morale within the Slovenian camp is sky high at present.

National skipper Koren is a man brimming with confidence and he believes a place in the knockout stages is the least his side should be aiming for.

"It was a big achievement for the country to come to the World Cup but now everybody wants to improve," he said.

Concentration

"When we arrived in South Africa we said we wanted to go through the group stage and we are full of confidence that we can. We already expected before the tournament to go through the group stage, and this is still the same.

"We all know that England is a really good team with big players in their squad, but we are not thinking too much about England - we will concentrate on ourselves and the way we want to play.

"The first game, England versus the USA, England played okay, we saw some good things and bad things, and it was the same in the second game against Algeria. England didn't show the football we expected, but we all need to know that England will be ready."

Coach Kek is also in bullish mood ahead of the make or break midweek encounter, and insists he will be taking no interest in the other Group C fixture between America and Algeria which could have a major say in the final standings.

"I don't care about the other match, I am just focused on this match and I think we will come out on top," he said.

"Our whole nation is together, they are following our successes. They are together like the team is together at the moment."