Montenegro’s football team will face their first significant challenge in the World Cup qualifiers this June, taking on the Czech Republic away from home.

The match in Plzen is scheduled for June 6th and could play a crucial role after both Montenegro and the Czech Republic secured six points each against Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands in March.

The team assembled today in Podgorica, although Adam Marušić is absent due to an injury sustained during his last game for Lazio. However, the objective remains the same—a remarkable performance in the Czech Republic.

“This match could shape our journey. We’re up against a solid opponent away from home, and achieving a good result would mean a lot to us,” stated coach Robert Prosinecki.

The Czech Republic is a team that Montenegro has struggled against historically, having lost all five of their previous encounters.

“The Czechs are a disciplined side, featuring Patrik Šik as their standout player and top scorer. They appear strong, with players from England, Germany, and many hailing from Slavia Prague. We observed their game against the Faroe Islands, where they clinched victory in the closing moments. The Faroes can be quite challenging, as we learned firsthand. We have an opportunity, and we’ll prepare diligently,” added the Croatian coach.

Prosinecki is confident that Montenegro possesses the quality needed to make an impact on the field in Plzen.

“I believe we can compete with teams of this caliber. We demonstrated our capability against Turkey. We hope that Stefan Savić will finally be fit, as he has only played against North Macedonia since my arrival. His presence would be crucial for our defense and overall performance. We certainly have the tools at our disposal.”

The roster also features young talents Vasilije Adžić and Andrija Bulatović.

“Now that they are part of the squad, they have the chance to contribute against the Czech Republic. I’m sorry to say that Adžić has had limited playtime at Juventus; it would have been beneficial for us if he had played more. Nevertheless, we invited him because both he and Bulatović are exceptionally talented players, having achieved significant success with the youth team by qualifying for the European Championship,” concluded Prosinecki.

Following their match against the Czech Republic, Montenegro is scheduled to play a friendly against Armenia on June 9th in Nikšić.

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