Slovenia forward Josip Ilicic reveals touching moment with Declan Rice during draw with England after returning at Euro 2024 following lengthy mental health struggles

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Slovenia forward Josip Ilicic revealed Declan Rice paid him a heartwarming compliment after he made his return in the goalless draw with England.

The Three Lions were held to a drab stalemate in Cologne last night after once again delivering a limp Euro 2024 display - but finished top of Group C on five points.

The final whistle was greeted with resounding jeers from travelling England supporters but equally loud cheers from the Slovenia camp, with a point enough to see them progress to the last-16 as one of the best-performing third-placed teams. 

Ilicic was introduced on 75 minutes for his first competitive appearance for his country in 955 days, having battled physical and mental health issues.

The 36-year-old openly admitted he had nearly walked away from football entirely twice over the last four years. He took time away from the sport in 2020 due to depression before missing the second half of the 2021-22 campaign.

Slovenia forward Josip Ilicic made his long-awaited return after mental health struggles

Declan Rice made a beeline for Ilicic after he was brought on in the 0-0 draw with England

'This pleases me. The whole world knows my story.'

Asked who the player was, he then replied: 'An Arsenal midfielder, you know well.' He later confirmed it was indeed Rice who had congratulated him.

In 2018, Ilicic was hospitalised with a lymph node infection, an illness he revealed 'changed him'. 'I realised football isn't everything in life,' he said.

Ilicic came on for the final 15 minutes to mark his international comeback after 955 days away

Rice congratulated Ilicic for the emotional milestone and told him he 'respects him a lot'

'At times people get angry over nothing, but that illness changed me. I didn't even want to watch the games. My family, teammates and the coach stood by me, then once I recovered, it was an issue of finding match fitness.'

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Ilicic was also affected by the sudden passing of his former Fiorentina team-mate David Astoria, who died at the team hotel after a cardiac arrest, the same year.

'I was afraid to go to sleep,' Ilicic said. 'I thought I would never wake up in the morning and see my family again. It was hard to recover. You start from below zero and you have to get used to moving and running again, as if I were a child.'

But his return to form with Maribor in his homeland saw him handed a first international call-up in two years, his story making him an inspiration for many.

'I am sincerely pleased [that people see me as an inspiration],' Ilicic said. 

Slovenia was currently waiting to discover their next opponent after qualifying from their group. In-form Portugal or the winner of Group E, any of Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine, await in the first round of the knockouts.