The opening match makes for a perfect warm up for the Slovenian outfit, which has high hopes for the tournament, as Saudi Arabia ranks as one of the weakest of the 24 teams taking part.

The Slovenian team, which has been hit by injuries to several key players, including goalkeepers Matevž Skok and Urban Lesjak, maintains it will not take the Saudis lightly. "We will go all out," players said following their first training session after arriving in Spain.

"We will not be holding back against any opponent. We must be fully motivated for each match," said team coach Boris Denič. Denič has stated that Slovenia's primary aim at the tournament is reaching the round of 16, but he believes that despite the injuries, the team can go much further, a sentiment shared by the players.