Where is Slovenia? New Yorkers Puzzle Over Team USA's World Cup Opponent Updated June 18, 2010 10:17am

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(DNAinfo/Simone Sebastian)

By Simone Sebastian

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

UNION SQUARE — Let's hope the U.S. World Cup team is better at beating Slovenia than New Yorkers are at pronouncing it.

As the U.S. goes toe-to-toe with the European country on the soccer field Friday morning, some New Yorkers pondered, "What's Slovenia and why should I care?"

"Slovenia. It's a fake word made up by Al Capp, probably, or some cartoonist," said Brooklyn Heights resident Newton Meyers, 84. "There is no place by that name."

Sure there is, said 26-year-old Irina Gulbach. It's in Sweden.

Good guess, Irina. But Slovenia is in southern Europe. Formerly a part of Yugoslavia, the nation is about the size of Maryland.

It even has a capital: Ljubljana.

"Lehubiana?" 51-year-old Jose Roberto Garcia Mojica questioned, trying to pronounce the Slovenian city. "How you say it?"

"Julana? Jublana?" tried his friend, Victor Williams, 42.

Good try, Victor. But the L's and the J's are silent.

Many New Yorkers didn't even know why Slovenia was in the news.

"Oh, it's a big meeting of the general staff!" Meyers suggested. "Or something or other."

OK, so maybe these New Yorkers aren't big soccer fans. But that didn't stop them from having strong opinions on who will win today's game.

"I don't understand it but I like it," said Brooklyn resident G'Taro Mitchell, 24, who admitted to rooting for Slovenia in today's game. "I have a feeling they have a good chance of winning because America really sucks."