Bijol, from ski champion to Oblak’s ‘bulletproof vest’ in Slovenia: “He is a kind of substitute captain”
Jaka Bijol (Vuzenica, 5-2-1999) was born on the same day as Neymar, Tévez… and Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom he will measure his strength in the round of 16 of the Euro Cup. His mission, however, is not to score goals, but to prevent them.
England 0-0 Slovenia: summary | Euro Cup (J3)
The Udinese centre-back, 25 years old and 190 centimeters tall, could well be in the ‘Ideal Eleven’ of the Group Stage after leading Slovenia to the round of 16 for the first time in their history. Not in vain, he is the Euro player who more clearances has made (28), the fifth that he has intercepted the most balls (6), the seventh most shots has blocked (7) and closes the ‘top 10’ of tackles completed successfully (9).
It is the ‘wall’ before the ‘great wall’: Oblak. “The feeling of security you have when Jan is in goal is incredible,” acknowledges Slovenia’s ‘shadow leader’.
Slovenia’s ‘shadow captain’
“Oblak will wear the armband, of course, but Bijol will have the task of reaching out and communicating with the referee. He will be a kind of substitute captain, so to speak,” said coach Matjaz Kek before the complications involved in the fact that Oblak has to leave the goal to go and complain to the referee. A job that, according to UEFA, only the captain can do.
Bijol, who debuted in the national team at the age of 19, has become one of the most prominent centre-backs in ‘calcio’, but When he left Rudar Velenje for CSKA in 2018 he played as a midfielder. The legendary Alekséi Berezutsky was key in his ‘metamorphosis’.
Slovenia 1-1 Serbia: summary and goals | Euro Cup (J2)
“He suggested it to me because I was convinced that I would take better advantage of my physique and my good positioning and I did not object. At first it was complicated, but we tried and it turned out well. Behind you run less, but you fight more”, admits.
“They will not play your country’s anthem in your honor again”
To tell the truth, Bijol was not called to be a footballer, but a skier. At the age of 13 he became the Slovenian giant slalom champion. However, that same day, he got off the podium and, by surprise, decided to leave.
“We were a little sad. He skied very well, he was very aggressive, but he just wanted to play football. He didn’t say why, but I think he felt too much pressure. I remember saying to him: ‘This was the last time they will play the anthem in your honor.’ I was wrong…”, remembers his father, John Bijol, who has just been elected president of the Slovenian Alpine Ski Federation. “My family preferred me to be successful in skiing, but then they have always supported me,” Jaka admits.
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark: summary and goals | Euro Cup (J1)
Now, after ‘closing all avenues’ for Kane, one of the stars with whom he shares a birthday awaits him: Cristiano Ronaldo. “I take my hat off to his physical condition. I don’t know how he will be at his age… I have to say, yes, he is looking for too many whistles in his favor,” he complained after Slovenia will beat Portugal (0-2) in a friendly played in March.
This time, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake, it will be a different story, but Bijol is confident of continuing to make history: “The rival doesn’t matter. I am sure that we are going to play another high-level match, like against England (0-0). I’m really looking forward to the game. “We have gone through very difficult times and now we are experiencing one success after another.” Well nothing… let the party continue!
