Set to face Russia later today in the France 2017 eighth-finals, Slovenia have been quietly going about their business in Metz where they lost just one of their preliminary group B matches, against Spain.

With an average squad age of just over 25-years-old – it would be lower except for a handful of 30-year-olds and the replacement of 20-year-old goalkeeper Urh Kastelic – experienced coach Veselin Vujovic successfully guided his team through the group stage with hard work and a tight bond – typified through a number of squad birthdays this past week where Vujovic paid tribute to his charges.

A highlight of their time in Metz were their quick re-starts after conceding goals and the change from seven players against six and vice versa. Most notably, against the Macedonians in their third group game, a 29:22 win.

“I have young, but very technical players,” said Vujovic. “We have a specialist for attacks and good tactics for faster passes and for dribbling in the game.

“Of course, we have tactical combinations against 6-0, 5-1 and one more player (7 v 6), like all coaches have.”

Slovenia work hard in their training, as any team do at France 2017, but with Slovenia saying goodbye to stars of their squad for many years, Vujovic is bringing through the next generation.

“I have five or six players who are around 20-years-old and after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games we changed some big and historic Slovenian players like [Uros] Zorman, [Dean] Bombac and [Gorazd] Skov,” said Vujovic.

“I am very happy and satisfied now with this team and we have a good future,” he continued. “It is very important [when they see their training results on the court]. Always after a win everyone is happy and it is easy – they believe in me when they win.”

One player who has been working particularly hard is 30-year-old goalkeeper Matevz Skok.

IHF rule changes implemented last year mean teams fielding an additional player in place of their goalkeeper and playing 7 v 6 in attack are more frequent. This has meant spectacular full-length goals at France 2017, with one in the Slovenian match-up against the Macedonians a first for Skok in his 66 games at that point.

“Officially it was the first time I scored, but it doesn’t mean anything,” he said.

“Because now, in this system of 7v6, it’s easier to score. It’s good to have a ‘one’ in the column next to my name under the goals scored, but it’s the same feeling [when you win if you score or not]. It’s more important for me the number of saves.”

The flipside of the coin for Skok is the sprinting on and off court when the 7 v 6 attack breaks down and the goalkeeper has to come back on and set himself in goal before a shot is targeted in on their goal.

“We train with the team and practise these sprints,” said the RK PPD Zagreb player. “I am very fast, but I am so tired because I make so many sprints back into goal and it’s too much sometimes.

“It’s so hard to play like this because when you come back into goal you have to concentrate straight away and you must be focussed.”

Despite the tiredness involved in the 7 v 6 attacks, Skok is a fan of the rule change and hopes that it can bring extra interest in the sport to fans.

“We don’t play a lot 7 against 6 but it’s good,” he said. “It’s something different and something new for handball, it’s something different for spectators and it’s more exciting.

“This is good for handball.”