As the team responsible for those memorable upsets is largely intact, with Zulic part of the key trio on the back court alongside the high scoring Ana Gros and Tjasa Stanko, the recipe to find success seems to need only minor tweaks. One change has been on the bench, with EHF EURO 2012 champion coach Dragan Adzic taking over in 2021 after Uros Bregar led the team for many years.
“He focused on some things that he thought that we need to improve and be better. And I think we do that. First of all, our spirit altogether — that we are more open with each other,” says Zulic, outlining the main influences brought so far by Adzic. “Also in the defence, that we all all prepared in every situation, in every second.”
The team chemistry and preparation will be important as Slovenia target progression from the preliminary round for the first time since the EHF EURO 2004, when the best result so far was recorded — ninth place. The home advantage can also be critical, and Zulic says that, with Adzic’s guidance, the players have been extremely focused to be ready for the EHF EURO on their own turf on an individual level as well as collectively.
“This championship at home gave us a little bit more energy. We gave ourselves more and we fight. In this year and half, every girl worked on herself, that she will be better, and that you will represent your country at home like you're supposed to do. I’m sure that we will not disappoint anybody — first of all us, the girls, the team, our staff, and then the country,” says the 26-year-old.
“It's a great opportunity, to share these emotions with your family, friends, with your teammates. To be home where you have supporters, where you have people — that they will come and they will cheer with us. This is some extra and special feeling and I’m happy and grateful that I’m here. And I know that all of the girls are grateful that we can show our best at home and and hope that a lot of people will come and we will be happy all together.”