The atmosphere that has often engulfed handball giants didn’t intimidate the underdogs, especially with a disoriented Montenegro facing Italy.

The downfall that began across the Adriatic came to fruition in the nearly unassailable “Morača.” Instead of erasing Italy’s lead from the first match (32:26), Montenegro faced another setback against a team that, while not at the top of the world, clearly had the upper hand at this moment.

After a six-goal deficit in Konversan, the Montenegrin handball team faced another loss in Podgorica, 34:32. The time-out requested by former coach Vlado Shola with only half a minute left illustrated how lost the “lions” appeared since the Croatian expert took charge.

– Italy outplayed us in both matches, excelling in both defense and attack – stated Šola.

Following three significant competitions in succession, Montenegrin handball players will now watch the top selections from the sidelines next January. Their next opportunity to compete could be the 2026 European Championship—perhaps too lengthy a wait for this generation.

– We need to unite and focus on improving for the future, correcting our mistakes and getting back on track – emphasized Luka Radovic, notable for his performance in the second match.

NO STRATEGY, DEFENSIVE ISSUES, LACK OF DESIRE…

Like in Konversan, the “lions” entered the match lacking a coherent offensive strategy and a solid defense against the “azure’s” fast breaks, primarily from Giacomo Savini and Simone Megnon, who easily penetrated our defense at every turn.

Rather than diminishing Italy’s lead as the crowd hoped, it only widened in favor of the visitors.

When Šola’s players finally managed to close the gap—last at 12:11 in the 23rd minute—team Ricardo Trillini initiated another series that left fans in “Morača” stunned, with halftime showing a four-goal lead for Italy (17:13) and a total deficit of ten for Montenegro.

– I believe Italy was more eager to qualify for the World Cup than we were—we failed to showcase our true potential in either match – added Radović.

APPLAUSE FOR THE PLAYERS

The same narrative repeated in the second half. Montenegro’s last chance to turn the tide came in the 49th minute when Aleksandar Bakić shot to bring it within one (27:26), only for Branko Vujović, the team’s star player, to lose possession on the following attack.

Even during these moments, the Italians exuded calmness, accustomed to high-stakes competitions. They had been waiting for this qualification since 1998, celebrating their victory right in Podgorica.

The disappointment was profound; Šola exited with his head bowed as some fans called for his resignation, while the players stayed behind to receive applause from the supporters.

– The atmosphere was fantastic, but it can’t win games on its own – remarked Šola.

– I’m sorry we disappointed the fans – added Radović, continuing:

– These are experiences you cherish; you live for moments like this, striving for something perfect – just like every child dreams of when starting in sports.

With Šola’s departure, legendary pivot Nemanja Grbović also bid farewell in a somber manner. The remaining players face ongoing challenges, and it falls upon the Handball Association to find the right coach, especially since it’s evident the decline began prior to the Croatian expert’s arrival during the 2023 World Championship.

The coach leaves, issues remain

Immediately after the game, Vlado Šola accepted responsibility and took the anticipated, yet humane step of resigning as coach.

– I commend the players and take full responsibility for everything… Everything that went wrong is my fault. I resign immediately; I regret if I disappointed the handball community in Montenegro – stated Šola.

He made an intriguing comment as well…

– I don’t want to insinuate anyone acted intentionally or didn’t give their all. I won’t specify who performed well or poorly; that falls on my shoulders. Successes and failures are part of sports. This is a clear failure, particularly for me – added Šola.

The Croatian coach attributed the loss solely to himself, but it’s apparent that those who appointed him as coach share responsibility, having misjudged who could effectively elevate this promising generation since they performed admirably at the 2022 European Championship—now, that even Italy is confident against them.

MONTENEGRO – ITALY 32:34 (13:17)

Podgorica – Hall “Morača.” Attendance: 5,300. Referees: D. Akoto-Martinš and R. Akoto-Martinš (Portugal). Penalties: Italy 4 (3). Exclusions: Montenegro 8, Italy 6 minutes. Red card: Kaluđerović (Montenegro) in the 39th minute.

Montenegro: Matović (four saves and seven goals), Simić (two saves), A. Bakić 3, Dragašević 1, M. Vujović 1, Čavor 2, Lazović, Ćorsović 2, B. Vujović 5, M. Radović, Kaluđerović 2, L. Radović 6, Krivokapić 1, M. Bakić, Borozan 5, Grbović 4.

Italy: Ebner (10 saves), Colleluori (one save), De Angelis, Dapiran 1, Bulcamini 1, Savini 6, M. Mengon 1, Bronco 8 (1), S. Mengon 8, Ibali, Bortoli 1, Puljeze, Manojlović, Helmerson 2 (2), Morocco, Parisini 6.

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