Slovenia may not have won a game at a European Championship yet, but three draws have sent them through to the knockout stage of a major men's tournament for the first time.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Their Euro 2024 last-16 qualification as one of the four best third-placed teams was sealed via a 0-0 draw with Group C winners England.
Slovenia's players stayed on the pitch and celebrated wildly with their fans, who no doubt saw the irony of fellow former Yugoslav states Serbia and Croatia - much bigger nations - crashing out on the same night.
Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek told a news conference: "I didn't quite expect us to be going through. We showed with our play that we deserve to go through. We were playing one of the favourites for the tournament today. Thank you to all the fans, and maybe there was a bit of luck involved, but our fans had our back."
Slovenia qualified for the World Cups in 2002 and 2010 as an independent nation, but went out in the group stage.
They could also not get out of the group stage at Euro 2000, where they failed to win a match.
But the switch to 24 teams means third place and three points can be enough to get through, and unbeaten Slovenia have taken full advantage.
They were only a fair-play ranking away from second in the group as they finished with an identical record to Denmark.
"Throughout the whole day I have felt positive, and we showed mental fortitude tonight," Kek said.
"I am very proud of this team."
Underlining their hard work, Slovenia midfielder Adam Gnezda Cerin was named man of the match.
The England draw was only the second time in Slovenia's past 23 matches where they have failed to score.
Slovenia might end up facing 2016 winners Portugal in the last 16 in Frankfurt on Monday.
Australian Associated Press
