View thegodfather's match previews, match reports and articles at www.wearetherangersboys.com


Slovenia/Croatia Tour – full preview
By thegodfather

Queens Park Rangers got their pre-season campaign off to a promising start on Saturday by thrashing Gary Waddock’s Aldershot Town 0-4 at the Recreation Ground. It was pleasing to see Akos Buzsaky back on the score-sheet after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious injury. However, perhaps the most surprising aspect of the performance was a first appearance from left-back, Gary Borrowdale, who joined Rangers in mysterious circumstances last January. Could this be a sign that Magilton intends to use the “invisible man” (as he has been nicknamed by QPR fans) next season? It will certainly be interesting to see whether Borrowdale is handed another start during the Rs’ tour of Slovenia next week.

Football in Slovenia

There are three leagues in Slovenia: the SNL (Slovenian National League), the Second Division and the Third Division (divided into East and West). Teams also compete in the Slovenian Cup and the Super Cup. The Slovenian Football Association organises the domestic competitions and is also responsible for the national team. NK Maribor are the current champions of the SNL.

Football in Croatia

The Croatian football league system consists of three divisions: the Prva HNL (first division), the Druga HNL and the Treca HNL (divided into East, West and South). Teams compete in the National Cup and the Super Cup. The Croatian Football Federation organises the domestic competitions and is also responsible for the national team. Dinamo Zagreb are the current champions of the Prva HNL.

First match
NK Celje V Queens Park Rangers
Wednesday 15th July 2009
Kick-off: 20:00

A few facts on NK Celje

I did try to research the two teams but I couldn't find an awful lot in English (apart from what is written below). If anyone has any other information I'd be very interested to hear from you. Please contact me via PM.

1. NK Celje play their home matches at Arena Petrol in Celje, Slovenia’s third largest city. Recent building developments to the North Stand have raised the total capacity to 13,400. Arena Petrol is the most modern football ground in Slovenia with a pitch heating system and floodlighting.

2. NK Celje is one of only three clubs to have played in the SNL in every season since the league’s formation in 1991. The club is also known as NK Publikum.

3. Formed in 1919, NK Celje is one of the oldest Slovenian football clubs. The team plays in yellow shirts, blue shorts and blue socks. The away kit is all white.

4. Celje last lifted the Slovenian Cup in 2005, beating ND Gorica 1-0.

5. West Brom and Slovenian international midfielder, Robert Koren, played for the club between 2001 and 2004, making 78 appearances and scoring 22 goals.

Second match
NK Karlovac V Queens Park Rangers
Sunday 19th July 2009
Kick-off: 18:00

A few facts on NK Karlovac

1. The club is one of the oldest football teams in Croatia. It was founded in 1919 by a group of construction workers from Karlovac.

2. The team plays in all blue at home. The away kit is all white. Their home is the Stadion Branko Cavlovic, which holds a maximum of 12,000 people.

3. The club will play in the Prva HNL next season after winning promotion from the Second Division at the end of the previous Croatian football campaign.

4. Former international striker, Igor Pamic, manages the team. He was a member of the Croatian squad for the 1996 European Championships in England. The former Dinamo Zagreb man has a lot of coaching experience in the Eastern European leagues.

QPR Team News

Rowan Vine picked up a knock at Aldershot and could miss the match against Celje on Wednesday evening. Lee Cook will definitely not be available for these two games with a serious knee injury. New signing, Alejandro Faurlin, is still awaiting international clearance of his transfer. Akos Buzsaky is expected to be involved after scoring against the Shots. Trialist, David Connolly, could also play a part.

Prediction

It is obviously very difficult to predict the outcome of the two matches. The Slovenian League is of rather modest quality and therefore I would expect Rangers to beat Celje comfortably. However, the game against NK Karlovac, who play in the Croatian Premier division, presents slightly more of a challenge. I still expect QPR to come out on top but I think the match could be more even as a contest. It must be remembered that the main purpose of pre-season games is to get the players match-fit and although it is nice to get the season off to a winning start, good friendly results are not absolutely necessary to have a successful Championship campaign.