England face tall task to beat Slovenia’s goalkeeper Samir Handanovic | Jonathan Wils

[Jonathan Wilson]

Internazionale player who saved six penalties in a row last season presents a formidable barrier to Roy Hodgson’s side in their Euro 2016 qualifier on SundayJan Oblak performed heroics when Benfica drew 0-0 away to Juventus in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final last season. He projects a confidence that makes him appear taller than his 6ft 1in. He secured a move to Atlético Madrid at the age of 21 as the long-term replacement to Thibaut Courtois and, although he has largely played second fiddle to Miguel Ángel Moyà this season, Oblak is widely regarded as one of the best young goalkeepers in the world. He even shares a surname with probably the greatest Slovenian footballer ever, Branko Oblak, but he is some way from becoming the first choice for his country and is unlikely to face England in their Euro 2016 qualifier in Ljubljana on Sunday. It’s a joke as old as international football itself: if we’re being kind to Josip Ilicic, Slovenia probably have three top-class players; two of them are goalkeepers.
Samir Handanovic is 30, so at least Oblak will get his chance at some point, but it looks like being a while yet. The player, who joined Internazionale from Udinese in July 2012, is the model of a modern goalkeeper. At 6ft 4in, he is tall enough to command his box without being so tall that he struggles to get down for low shots. He is muscular without being so well-built that he loses agility. He may not be quite so comfortable with the ball at his feet as, say, Víctor Valdés or Hugo Lloris, but neither is he line-bound or incapable of initiating attacks from the back.
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