The defense that will be talked about for years has thwarted the hopes, plans, and strategies of their rivals in Group B. Now is the perfect time to disrupt the festivities set for Debrecen.

Fresh from their stellar performance in the preliminary round, the Montenegrin handball team is set to commence the main stage of the European Championship against Hungary, with 5,000 fans in attendance at the “Fenix Arena.” The match against the hosts kicks off tonight at 20:30.

– We are looking forward to a party in Debrecen with an absolutely amazing audience, as Hungarians have always been passionate about handball – stated Itana Grbić from the northeast of Hungary.

This kind of atmosphere only adds to our motivation.

– We will relish the spectacle. We genuinely enjoy that type of atmosphere and almost feel like it’s our fans rooting for us – we prefer it that way instead of the ambiance we experienced against the Czech Republic – Itana further noted.

Hungary is more prepared than ever

Hungary, like Montenegro, triumphed over all opponents in their group and also enters the main phase with two points.

– I have a solid understanding of the Hungarian players, and it seems to me that this team has never been better prepared and focused for a significant challenge – Ethan has no doubt.

Our key player believes that the real challenge begins at the EHF Euro starting today…

– That’s correct; the main phase kicks off, and it’s the most exciting part for all of us… We don’t need extra motivation for these types of matches; just being aware of what a victory could bring us is enough, even though we still face three highly competitive opponents – two points would be a huge advantage for what lies ahead.

She reflected on their previous victories as well.

– We genuinely anticipated all of this, and we knew we had to perform well and secure those two points if we aimed for something substantial later in the group – Itana emphasized.

We recognize our quality and style of play

Tonight marks the beginning of real competition, alongside a demanding schedule, as Suzana Lazović will lead her team against two of the toughest challengers in this phase — following Hungary, they will face the world champions, France, tomorrow at 18:00.

– Every match from now on will be challenging, as it carries significant implications and can shift the dynamics – anticipates Tatjana Brnović.

One of the world’s top pivot players, along with her teammate from Crimea, stresses that Hungary is particularly driven this year.

– They are the host country with a strong cohort that improves annually, reflecting on the progress in their gameplay. While it will be tough for us, we must focus on our performance, quality, and what we can deliver, so I’ll concentrate more on us and our strategy. We’ll definitely be prepared; we know what to expect — there won’t be any surprises – explained the handball player from Cetinje.

Different than last year

The “lionesses” last faced Hungary a year and a day ago, clinching a 24:18 victory during a World Cup match for the top spot in their group.

– I believe that defeat will serve as additional motivation for them… Analyzing that match, we executed an exceptional defense, especially in the second half. This could serve as extra motivation for them or as a reminder of what awaits them. Each match tells its own story; neither team is the same as last year – Tatjana is clear.

We operate as one

The talented Jelena Vukčević is a key player for Suzana Lazović as a right back.

– We function cohesively, which leads us to great achievements; reaching the main stage with three victories has fostered a fantastic spirit – says the Budućnost handball player.

She anticipates tough encounters in the group.

– We are aware of the challenging group we belong to and the demanding matches we face back-to-back. However, I am confident that if we maintain our defensive performance, we can achieve an excellent result – concluded Jelena.

EHF EURO 2024

Group 1 (Debrecin)

Sweden – Poland (15:30)

France – Romania (18:00)

Hungary – Montenegro (20:30)

Table: France 2, Hungary 2, Montenegro 2, Romania 0, Sweden 0, Poland 0

Group 2 (Vienna)

Switzerland – Germany (15:30)

Netherlands – Slovenia (18:00)

Denmark – Norway (20:30)

Table: Norway 2, Netherlands 2, Denmark 2, Switzerland 0, Germany 0, Slovenia 0.

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