Tomorrow marks a historic moment for handball at the “Merkur Spiel Arena” football stadium in Dusseldorf, which has been specially prepared for the opening of the European Championship.

More than 53,000 tickets have been sold for the matches between France and North Macedonia and Germany and Switzerland, setting a new world record.

Montenegro will also be featured as part of this spectacular event, competing in Group C matches at the Olympic Hall in Munich.

The venue is practically sold out, with only the most and least expensive tickets remaining for the hall that accommodates over 12,000 spectators—just a handful available in the VIP area and for standing spots.

The “Lions” will head to Bavaria tomorrow, gearing up for their first, potentially pivotal match in Group C on Friday at 20:30 against Hungary.

Vlado Shola finalized the 17-player roster a day before departure, with the latest withdrawal being Haris Suljević, the goalkeeper from the Bosnian champions Scouts.

One of the key players for the “Lions” will be Nebojsa Simic.

“We are not in a position to threaten anyone or set lofty goals, but I know that facing Montenegro isn’t taken lightly. We’ve established a reputation for being combative and capable of surprising even the strongest teams. Every group member will approach us with a degree of apprehension and respect,” explained the 30-year-old Baranin.

The German club Melzungen goalkeeper emphasized that the opening match is crucial.

“Without a positive result, our chances of advancing diminish significantly. We’d be left to rely on calculations, which is never ideal. Everyone wants to have control over their destiny. The Hungarians are a quality team, but they can be inconsistent. They were eliminated from the group stage in Budapest despite playing in front of 20,000 fans,” Simić noted.

Hungary may not be a handball superpower, even with their budget exceeding 20 million euros. Their best European Championship finish was sixth place in 1998, and they’ve not ranked higher than eighth since.

“They can have rough days, which could work to our advantage. Nonetheless, the Hungarians invest significant resources into handball, with two top clubs competing in the Champions League. The state supports the league and clubs, and their infrastructure is robust, but they experience many fluctuations,” he mentioned.

Simić believes the “Lions” will have the edge in terms of character on Friday.

“In our group with Serbia and Iceland, both known for their combativeness and courage, the Hungarians certainly can’t outmatch us. However, they have a deep roster and several players in excellent form. Center back You’re faking it was unknown to me, as he plays in Wisla in Poland, and he scored eight goals for Vesprem in the Champions League. Caution is essential, as you never know what young, ‘hungry’ players are capable of,” the “Minister of Defense” concluded.

Vuko’s Return is a Significant Advantage for Us

The return of Vuk Borozan is crucial for Montenegro’s attack and particularly for their defense. Alongside Vuk Lazović, he fortifies the “three” and “four” positions, and his presence is invaluable for Nebojša Simić.

“He was a tremendous help during the tournament in Croatia. Having him on defense is a great relief. He’s intelligent, effectively covering the block, knowing when to challenge the pivot. He’s physically imposing and closes off large spaces, playing with great intelligence and minimal movement. His presence is certainly an advantage for us,” Simić emphasized.

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