Vlatko Čančar was an important member of the Slovenian national team in the past. Photo: Jaka Gasar
Vlatko Čančar is returning to the Slovenian national team after problems with injuries
The Basketball Association of Slovenia (KZS) has revealed on its website the list of invitees for the upcoming matches in the qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup. Vlatko Čančar is one of the more experienced basketball players on the list of coach Aleksandar Sekulić, who has had a lot of problems with injuries in recent seasons, and last played for the national team in 2024.
The Slovenian men’s basketball team has come to the end of the first part of the qualification for the World Cup in 2027. The leading team of Group H will visit Estonia on July 3, and three days later they will host Sweden in Stožice.
The rejuvenated Slovenian team has done well with the previous part of the qualifications. After four matches played, with three wins and a loss, the national team is leading the group.
Sekulić’s team defeated the Czech Republic twice, beat Sweden on the road and narrowly lost to Estonia in Koper after extra time. The Czech Republic and Estonia have collected two wins and two losses so far, Sweden has a win and three losses.
17 basketball players on the list
After six matches played, the first three national teams from each of the eight groups will advance from the group stage. The top three teams from Group H will play the next six matches against the top three from Group G, which includes France, Finland, Hungary and Belgium. The second part of the qualification will start at the end of August.
The professional staff of the national team, led by selector Sekulić, included 17 basketball players on the national team list. It features Miha Cerkvenik, Saša Ciani, Gregor Hrovat, Stefan Joksimović, Urban Klavžar, Urban Kroflič, Alen Malovčić, Alen Omić, Mark Padjen, Bine Prepelić, Klemen Prepelič, Rod Radović, Žiga Samar, Leon Stergar, Luka Ščuka, Edo Murić and Čančar.
After leaving Denver, the latter joined Milan in the Euroleague, and then, due to poor playing time and several new injuries, he was left without a place in the team. He has been without a club for the past eight months. He last played for the selected team in 2024.
The national team will start preparations on June 17. Before the qualifying matches, they will also play a warm-up match against Italy, which will take place on June 27 in Celje.
Slovenia is fighting for its fifth WC appearance
“We will also enter the last cycle of the first part of the qualifications with a rejuvenated and mixed cast. This team has so far shown the right attitude, exceptional character and very good performances, and is deservedly leading the rankings. I hope that the fans have also recognized this and will give them additional impetus with their visit to Stožice,” said its sports director Saša Dončić in a statement to the Basketball Association of Slovenia.
“We completely trust these boys and I believe that they will once again show excellent basketball. Both the players and the staff of the national team are aware of the responsibility and at the same time the great opportunity to first confirm the placement in the second part, and then prepare the best possible starting point for the continuation of the qualifications,” added Dončić.
Slovenia is competing for its fifth appearance at the WC. It was ninth in Japan in 2006, eighth in Turkey in 2010, seventh in Spain in 2014, and seventh in the Philippines in 2023. The twentieth edition of the World Cup will be hosted by Qatar between August 27 and September 12, 2027.
