The Montenegrin women’s handball team secured victory against Turkey today in Rize, finishing 30:28 and clinching first place in their European Championship qualifying group before the round concluded.

While the “Lionesses” performed well in Turkey, they made numerous technical errors that need addressing ahead of the Olympic Games qualifiers.

“I anticipated a tough match in such a vibrant atmosphere. The players seemed a bit pressured in the first half, rushing things too quickly. We recorded nine technical errors in the first half and six in the second—far too many for a match of this importance. We’ll focus on correcting these issues. The main thing is that we secured the win and everyone is healthy. We utilized a lot of rotations. Now, we move forward,” stated coach Bojana Popović after the game.

Popović noted the short preparation time for this match, as the “lionesses” had only recently gathered.

“These matches are incredibly challenging. We had just one day to come together before hitting the road. We attempt to resolve issues through discussions, yet we need to experience situations like today. The defensive formations and transitions were the most problematic. I believe these issues stem from a lack of familiarity, as they haven’t played together in a while, but also from a bit of confusion. I’m confident that in a matter of days, we will improve on these fronts,” Popović added.

On Sunday (the 18th), Montenegro will face Bulgaria in their final qualification match in Podgorica.

“I hope we can conclude this qualifying round positively, stay healthy after that game, and head to Ulm with the Angels,” concluded Bojana Popović.

Mugoša: We need to address technical mistakes; Despotović: We might already be thinking of Germany

Dijana Mugoša was the standout performer for the “lionesses,” scoring nine goals.

“Winning these two points is what matters most. This game served us well for the challenges ahead next week. We need to remain focused and prepared for those critical games. We made too many technical errors, which may feel unusual for us, but it’s better to face them now rather than later. We’re progressing step by step towards what truly matters,” Mugoša remarked.

Jelena Despotović commented that she and her teammates might already be thinking about Ulm.

“The main objective was achieved—gaining those two points. It wasn’t easy, and the crowd was fantastic. You could sense that we hadn’t been together for a while. Perhaps we are mentally preparing for Germany already. Our start wasn’t the best, and the defense reflected that, but I trust we will be ready when it counts,” stated Despotović, a player from Budućnost.

The qualifiers for the European Championship include one remaining match against Bulgaria, following which preparations for the Olympic Games qualifiers will commence. In Ulm, “Lavice” will compete in a group with Paraguay, Slovenia, and Germany.

“We will give our all. We’ll make the most of the time until the qualifiers to refine our skills, improving our performance so we can succeed in Ulm,” Despotović emphasized.

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