Paraguay suggested that the “lionesses” are not in optimal form and were outperformed at the most significant tournament in the last three years, and Germany showed all of that…

During the initial 20 minutes, when the opponent’s net was breached only three times and after 42 minutes, the score showed a significant lead of 10 (20:10) for the Germans, ending with a final margin of minus four feels relatively acceptable. Montenegro’s handball players faced a defeat in the second round of the Olympic qualifying games against the host nation Germany (28:24), but they still control their destiny for a chance to reach Paris.

Everything will be decided in 60 minutes. If tomorrow (Sunday) at 16:32 they defeat Slovenia (who triumphed over Paraguay 14:XNUMX the day before), they will secure their ticket to the City of Light, and no one will recall their lackluster performances against Paraguay and Germany.

– Even if we had secured a win against Germany or managed a draw, we were aware we had to beat Slovenia in the final round. That match is crucial for our Olympic aspirations – stated the Montenegro coach Bojana Popović.

Her players struggled on offense from the onset – the best indicator being that they scored their first goal through action only after ten minutes, with Tatjana Brnović finding the net thanks to an assist from Jelena Despotović. In that moment, Montenegro’s hopes were kept alive by goalkeeper Armel Atingre with several remarkable saves.

– We knew it would be challenging from the beginning; our strong defense kept us in it at 4:3. However, our offense was inconsistent. We couldn’t anticipate when we would score. A lot of missed shots from the right side allowed the opposition to pull ahead – Popović explained.

Montenegro had opportunities to shift the match’s momentum early on, but Diana Mugoš missed a penalty shot, and Anastasia Marsenić squandered a good scoring opportunity on the wing. Germany’s goalkeeper Katarina Filter took full advantage. As a result, the hosts capitalized and created a more substantial lead at 7:3.

The first half concluded with a manageable score of 11:7, yet instead of a turnaround by the “lionesses” in the second half, Germany surged ahead with a 4:0 run to 15:7, seemingly sealing the match.

– I think too many missed shots in the first half and a poor start in the second half ultimately cost us the game – reflected Matea Pletikosic, who was the standout in the offensive effort, scoring on all nine attempts (including six successful penalty shots).

Germany led 18:20 with 10 minutes remaining, after which Montenegro finally found their rhythm to avoid total disaster. The upcoming match with Slovenia will reveal if that moment was their turning point or if their opponents eased off.

– In the last 20 minutes, we stabilized our offense, which improved our score. I was pleased with the defensive efforts the girls exhibited and their determination until the end – Bojana Popović noted.

Interestingly, the loss against Germany had its silver linings, according to Bojana.

– This game taught us a lot. I’m glad we had this experience so the girls could see certain aspects, play with intensity, and gauge the real opponent we face in the last match.

The coach even suggested that some strategies from the match against Germany could provide a blueprint for Slovenia.

– I’m encouraged by our defensive play in the last 20 minutes and the first 15. Whether it’s a 5-1 or 6-0 defense, it’s evident they feel secure and powerful in that setup, so we’ll aim to replicate that approach against Slovenia – concluded Bojana.

Sixty minutes of truth lie ahead for the “lionesses” – a chance at Paris or a summer without Olympic participation.

GERMANY – MONTENEGRO 28:24 (11:7)

Neu-Ulm – “Ratiofarm Arena”. Attendance: 5,000. Officials: Alvares and Bustamante (Spain). Penalties: Germany 7 (6), Montenegro 7 (6). Suspensions: Germany 6, Montenegro 4 minutes.

Germany: Ekerle, Filter (14 saves and seven goals), Greisels 5 (1), Schmelzer, Antl, Tomajer, Smits 1, Shoke, Belk 6, Weigel, Maidhof 9 (5), Del 1, Berend 1, Osenkopp 2, Benke 2, Stocksleder 1.

Montenegro: Rajčić, Atingre (10 saves), Marsenić, Pletikosić 9 (5), Mugoša 4 (1), Ćorović, Popović, Ivanović, Brnović 2, Bulatović 1, Klikovac, Despotović 3, Pavićević 3, Kepić, Grbić 2, Vukcevic.

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