The moment has arrived to settle scores. The Montenegrin handball team will compete against the Czech Republic for the 10th-15th place at the World Championship in the morning at the “Jiske Bank Boxen” in Herning (7:14.30 a.m.). After the match between the Netherlands and Germany for the 11th position at around 5:00 p.m., they will know their next opponent for the fight to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris this April.

The contenders are already defined—those finishing fifth and eighth will vie for two Olympic spots against Spain and Argentina, while the sixth and seventh will face Slovenia and Paraguay. Analyzing which matchup might be easier, between Slovenia and Spain, is fruitless, so the “lionesses” are focusing solely on securing a victory against Markete Ježabkova and her team.

“We must demonstrate our character and come out victorious, primarily for our own sake. It’s crucial to end the championship on a high note, as we’ve traveled a long path to get here. We should put aside the past and play as if it’s the final. The Czech Republic is an unexpected rival—they’re giving their all. It will be a challenging match, but with solid defense, we can achieve a favorable outcome. Finishing in 7th place is important for us to have an easier group in the qualification for the Olympic Games,” remarked Matea Pletikosic.

45 Matea Pletikosić leads in assists and is likely to be recognized as the best player at the World Cup for her performance. Her nearest competitor is the Czech Marketa Ježabkova with 37 assists, while she is also the top goalscorer with 58 goals, outpacing the remarkable Norwegian Henny Reystad by 11 goals.

The youngest member of the national team, Jelena Vukčević, who turned 19 during the tournament, believes solid defense will be crucial.

“Some of the girls are feeling fatigued both physically and mentally, but maintaining our health and finishing with a win is the priority. I see us as the favorites, even though the Czech Republic is a surprise. Our 6:0 defense is performing at an impressive level, and it will lead us to victory. If we complement that with a strong attack, we should have no problems. A win would simplify our path to Paris,” Vukčević stated.

6:1 Montenegro has a favorable record against the Czech Republic, having won 6 out of their 7 encounters. Their only match in major competitions, the European Championship in 2016, ended with a narrow victory for the “lionesses” (28:27). They faced their sole defeat during the playoff for the 2019 World Championship in Most (26:24), but secured revenge in the rematch in Nikšić, winning by the same slim margin (25:23) and earning a spot in Japan.

The young right back leads the 2004 generation; she has participated in various championships for younger categories, but this tournament has marked her debut on the grand stage.

“It’s been an incredible experience and a wonderful feeling. I’ve had the chance to be with the senior national team both on and off the field in this great environment. I’m leaving the championship with the best memories,” expressed the young talent from Podgorica.

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