The Montenegro men’s junior handball team has kicked off their preparations for the European Championship for athletes under 20, scheduled to take place in Slovenia from July 10 to 21.

Coach Draško Mrvaljević has named a roster of 20 players who will vie for placement on the team at this continental event, where Montenegro will compete in group A alongside Croatia, Austria, and North Macedonia.

“This marks the first European Championship for players under 20, featuring 24 national teams compared to the previous 16. This expansion indicates the heightened level of competition and a broader range of teams with high aspirations. Regarding our cohort of players born in 2004 and later, we possess a certain level of talent, but our rotation is somewhat limited. Thus, we will require dedicated effort and a fully committed approach to remain competitive against the more experienced players born in 2006, who will also be participating in the European Championship in Podgorica in August while battling for a place in the elite tier of European handball,” commented coach Draško Mrvaljević.

The championship will showcase the 24 finest national teams from Europe, organized into six groups.

“In the group stage, formidable opponents await us, particularly Croatia, who is expected to be the group favorite, along with Austria and North Macedonia, both of whom exhibit significant talent. It’s evident we face a challenging road ahead in every match. However, before July 10, there are numerous aspects to address during our preparations, with the health and readiness of all players being paramount as we approach the European Championship, given that the opposing teams are not only skilled but also have players who are poised for remarkable futures,” added Mrvaljević.

The preliminary roster includes – goalkeepers: Dejan Čolović, Lazar Sredanović, Savo Vujović, and Balša Ćirović;

Left wings: Darko Đurković and Andrija Radovanović;

Right wings: Aleksa Knežević, Todor Bulatović, and Mojaš Nikolić;

Pivots: Semir Feka, Filip Božović, and Petar Kovačević;

Backs: Milo Bakić, Andrija Jokić, Milan Nišavić, Andrej Dobrković, Igor Mrvaljević, Stefan Bajić, Đorđe Šljukić, and Petar Radojićić.

The coaching staff for Mrvaljević includes Filip Popović and Miloš Vulićević, with Nikola Matović serving as the goalkeeper coach, and Danilo Boljević as the physiotherapist.

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