Slovenia’s World Cup qualification campaign has suffered a significant setback as star striker Benjamin Šeško has been ruled out of the upcoming qualifiers due to a knee injury sustained while playing for Manchester United. The 22-year-old forward, widely regarded as Slovenia’s most promising football talent, picked up the injury during a recent Premier League fixture and will now miss the crucial matches against Kosovo and Sweden.
According to Reuters, Šeško’s absence could not have come at a worse time. Slovenia currently sits in a competitive qualifying group where every point counts. The national team needs to beat Kosovo and at least secure a draw against Sweden to keep their playoff hopes alive. Without their top goal-scorer, coach Matjaž Kek faces a tactical headache as he looks to reorganize his attacking options.
Adding to the drama, tension has reportedly emerged between Manchester United and the Slovenian Football Federation. Coach Kek expressed his frustration publicly, claiming that the club has not provided full medical details or allowed Slovenia’s doctors to assess Šeško’s condition. “We are being kept in the dark,” Kek said, according to The Times, highlighting the ongoing communication gap between club and country over player management.
Despite the uncertainty, Manchester United remains optimistic about Šeško’s recovery, expecting him to return to training soon. However, for Slovenia, his absence could prove decisive. The team has built much of its recent success around his goal-scoring form, and his energy and finishing ability will be sorely missed on the field.
As the qualification matches approach, all eyes will be on how Slovenia adapts without its star striker—and whether this injury might alter the nation’s World Cup trajectory.
