The Montenegrin handball team finds itself in a tough situation after their loss to Hungary in the opening match of the 16th European Championship. They must secure victories against Iceland tonight at 6 PM and Serbia on Tuesday at the same time to ensure their progression to the main stage.

In some scenarios, even a draw against Iceland would keep their hopes alive, but it would put them at the mercy of other results. A defeat would definitively end their aspirations for a second consecutive appearance (third overall) among Europe’s top 12 teams.

Two years back, the weary “lions” fell to the Atlantic island team, losing 34:24. Their only victory in three encounters came on November 2, 2014, in Bar, where they triumphed 25:24.

Former coach Ljubomir Obradović surprised his counterpart Aaron Kristjansson by shifting Vuka Borozan to the middle back position, a decision that paid off as the then 20-year-old from Cetinje scored 10 goals and became the hero of that victory.

A similar performance from returning national team players is needed now, alongside a stronger defense than in their first match, coupled with improved concentration from both players and coaching staff.

Miscalculations made against Hungary will be costly against the Icelanders, who excel in counterattacks. Meanwhile, it was evident against Serbia that the northern European team struggles with positional attacks, highlighting the necessity for exceptional defense.

“We need to quickly put the Hungary game behind us. It’s a sport, and such large competitions demand resilience; we have matches every other day. The last-minute loss was disappointing, but what’s done is done. Technical errors cost us earlier in the match, and now we must focus on Iceland,” stated Luka Radović.

On Friday, Šola utilized all players except for goalkeeper Nikola Matović.

“We demonstrated that we can count on a deep bench. It’s crucial to showcase this against Iceland, who are strong medal contenders. They have serious players, comparable to the best in the world, like Gisli Kristjansson and Omar Magnuson. Stopping them and controlling the fast transitions is vital for a positive outcome,” emphasized the younger of the two namesakes on the right wing.

Although the loss to Hungary was tough, the team shifted their focus to the upcoming match against Iceland.

“Mental preparation is key. We need to start strong and demonstrate our capability to secure two points. The game between Serbia and Iceland revealed that there are no clear favorites in this group; anyone can triumph. This group is the most balanced in the championship, and the outcome is uncertain,” concluded the 26-year-old from Nikšić.

Aleksandar Bakić emphasized the necessity to minimize technical errors.

“A challenging match awaits us. Iceland is the group favorite, but their game against Serbia showed they can falter,” remarked the 23-year-old from Andrijevica.

Team Snorri Guđjonsen, a middle back known for winning Olympic silver in Beijing 2008 and bronze at the 2010 European Championship, did not impress against Serbia.

He struggled in positional attacks, with the “eagles” halting his counters; however, thanks to class from Aaron Palmarson and a crucial error from Petar Đorđić in the final moments, they managed a series of 3:0 to secure a draw (27:27).

“Serbia’s performance could be a template for how to face Iceland. They showcased their ability to compete, emphasizing a more aggressive defense and heightened focus in attack. I hope we come out on top. The Slađani never give up and set the pace in fast play. I trust we’ll concentrate on our defense and shut down their strongest attack elements,” noted Bakić.

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