With no clear strategy in the attack and a disastrous forty minutes behind them, achieving victory against a motivated and skilled opponent was simply unattainable.

The Montenegrin handball team put forth one of their weakest performances ever, struggling to keep up against Germany, ultimately losing 28:24. They now face Slovenia tomorrow at 16:00 in what is the most crucial match they’ve had in the past three years.

A win would qualify the “lionesses” for the Olympic Games, redeeming their two disappointing games at the start of the tournament in Ulm.

The “lionesses” demonstrated their struggles against the qualifying hosts; perhaps best illustrated by the fact that Bojana Popović’s squad managed to score only three goals in the first 20 minutes, while Germany held an astounding lead of 10 points by the 30th minute (20:10).

While a few impressive plays and goals from our team followed, it was clear that the Germans played with far greater ease…

The match against Slovenia is monumental, perhaps the defining game of this generation, with immense stakes on the line—the Olympic Games.

GERMANY – MONTENEGRO 28:24 (11:7)

NOJ-ULM – “Ratiofarm Arena”. Attendance: 5,000. Referees: 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, Vukčević.