The Slovenia national football team, known as the Slovenian Football Association (NZS) team, represents the nation of Slovenia in international competition. Based in Ljubljana, they compete in UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cup qualifiers, playing their home matches at the Stožice Stadium. Since gaining independence in the early 1990s, Slovenian football has carved out a proud history, most notably qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament and the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2010. Their golden generation, featuring stars like Zlatko Zahovič, achieved these historic feats. The modern era sees Slovenia as a competitive and organized side, often built on a solid defensive foundation and featuring talents who play in Europe's top leagues. The team, nicknamed "Fantje s pravljičnega jezera" (The Boys from the Fairy-tale Lake), carries the hopes of a passionate nation that punches above its weight in the footballing world.