Football News: Udinese Defender Unfazed by Euro 2024 Challenge
In an exclusive interview with GOAL, 25-year-old Udinese defender Jaka Bijol discussed his team’s recent battle to avoid relegation from Serie A and his upcoming challenge of facing some of the world’s top forwards at Euro 2024.
Bijol’s Slovenia has been drawn into a daunting Euro 2024 group alongside England, Denmark, and Serbia. However, the defender remains unperturbed, stating that the pressure of a relegation fight was far more nerve-racking than the prospect of facing the likes of Harry Kane, Rasmus Hojlund, or Dusan Vlahovic.
“Everything turned out well in the end, but I wouldn’t ever really want to go through that again!” Bijol said of Udinese’s narrow escape from relegation. “It was a really hard season for us. Right from the beginning, we had a lot of difficulties, so I’m really proud of the team.”
Despite the challenges, Bijol and Udinese managed to secure their Serie A status on the final day of the season. The defender described the experience as “really stressful,” but he is now looking forward to the opportunity to represent Slovenia at Euro 2024.
“The Euros, by contrast, is something to be enjoyed, at least in my eyes,” Bijol said. “I can’t imagine facing those kinds of players will be as nerve-racking as being involved in a relegation battle that goes right to the final day.”
With the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and Women’s World Cup all on the horizon, football fans can expect an exciting year ahead. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest developments in the world of football.
🔗 Source