Slovenia’s 21-year-old striker Benjamin Sesko had two golden alternatives to ship Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo packing from the European Championship on Monday.
Despite his rising star standing, Sesko could not capitalize on the possibilities that the 39-year-old Ronaldo has famously seized all through his illustrious profession. Sesko confronted Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa one-on-one twice, as soon as within the second half and once more in additional time, however failed to attain in a tense 0-0 draw. Ultimately, Slovenia succumbed 3-0 within the penalty shootout.
For now, Sesko’s tally stays 11 targets in his national-team profession. Ronaldo will get the possibility so as to add to his males’s worldwide file of 130 targets when he performs within the quarterfinals in opposition to France on Friday.
“I am his biggest supporter, and I have nothing but respect for him,” Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek said of his young star. “I feel his profession can be distinctive.”
That distinctive expertise made Sesko a switch goal for Arsenal in current weeks. The pursuit ended on the eve of Euro 2024 when he prolonged his contract with German membership Leipzig.
Before transferring to Leipzig in a 24 million euro deal ($25.8 million), the basketball-loving Slovenian was at its sibling membership, Salzburg, concurrently Erling Haaland.
Their comparable physique as youngsters sparked comparisons Sesko nonetheless tries to minimize as Haaland developed into arguably essentially the most feared ahead in Europe at Manchester City.
“I already said that I’m my own player,” Sesko said last September. “The solely factor that we’ve got form of comparable is, in fact, peak. And additionally, we’re each quick, however usually, we’ve got a unique type of enjoying.”
UEFA clocked Sesko because the quickest runner at Euro 2024 – at 35.9 kph (22.3 mph) – and that pace appeared more likely to be decisive Monday.
A foot race with the 41-year-old Portugal defender Pepe had just one winner when Sesko bore down on objective within the 62nd minute. His left-foot shot was squibbed weakly vast of Costa’s objective, and he shouted an expletive towards the skies.
When Pepe spilled the ball into Sesko’s stride within the one hundred and fifteenth minute, the sport appeared on the verge of being settled. But a robust and correct right-foot shot was saved by the goalkeeper’s outstretched boot.
“I tried to read his body language,” Costa said later after being voted player of the game. “Thankfully, I managed to assist the crew.”
By staying at Leipzig, Sesko ought to see extra sport time within the Champions League subsequent season.
He was a starter within the Champions League this season solely after beginning to rating usually within the Bundesliga by the point Leipzig met Real Madrid within the spherical of 16. Leipzig was edged out of the competitors on a 2-1 mixture rating in opposition to the eventual champion.
Sesko surged on, scoring in every of Leipzig’s final seven Bundesliga video games to finish with 14 in 31.
Only Jude Bellingham, in a standout debut for Madrid, scored extra targets as a participant aged below 21 in a prime European league this season.
Bellingham, nevertheless, has scored two essential targets at Euro 2024, and that may be a huge purpose why England is within the quarterfinals.
Sesko and Slovenia, on their present upward trajectory, must be again in 2028.
Source: www.dailysabah.com