The opening test match ahead of the European Championship, held in southern Vojvodina against North Macedonia, did not yield the desired results. However, it provided valuable insights into areas that need improvement before the handball events commence on January 12 in Germany.

The Montenegrin handball team faced defeat, losing to North Macedonia with a score of 39:37 during a friendly match in Stara Pazova.

“We had an early start, which somewhat affected our performance in the first half. Our reactions were sluggish, and they capitalized on that with a few counterattacks, which gave them an advantage. But in the grand scheme, that’s not what matters…” coach Vlado Šola remarked post-match.

So, is it significant?

“If we gleaned anything from this match, upon video analysis, we’ll draw more insightful conclusions. Initially, however, it seems clear that we need to enhance our defensive transitions since we allowed too many goals from half-counter and counter-attacks—an alarming indicator of necessary improvement,” emphasized Šola, the Croatian coach.

Notably, goalkeepers Nebojša Simić and Nikola Matović, along with guard Risto Vujacić, sat out this first preparatory game, while Vuko Borozan and Vuk Lazović were also absent from the Serbia trip.

“This decision was deliberate… I needed to assess certain players in specialized positions to evaluate their performance—it looked promising at times. Nonetheless, we clearly have work ahead of us, particularly in addressing areas of weakness,” stated the Montenegrin coach.

The “lions” are set for additional test matches in Poreč on January 4 and 5 against Slovenia and host Croatia.

“These opponents will present a stronger challenge, and I trust we will quickly sharpen our skills and implement our strategies successfully over the coming days,” concluded Šola.

The European Championship is scheduled to begin on January 10, with Montenegro facing Hungary (January 12), Iceland (14), and Serbia (16). The top two teams will advance to the main round, leading to a chance to compete at the handball “temple,” the Lankses Arena in Cologne.

Bakić: We allowed too many goals; this cannot happen again

Aleksandar Bakić, Montenegro’s left wing, scored three goals against North Macedonia.

“We experimented with a mixed defense, utilizing both 5-1 and 6-0 formations, but we allowed too many goals. Even if we were on a mixed team, such occurrences are unacceptable. We must organize our defense and aim to rectify our mistakes in the next two matches, ensuring a strong start at the EP,” stated Bakić.

News