As they embark on their journey towards a third World Cup, the “lions” set off from Konversano, an ancient city across the Adriatic that has emerged as a handball hub in Italy in the new millennium…

Montenegro is set to face Italy in the opening match of the playoffs for a spot in the World Cup, which will be held in Croatia, Norway, and Denmark. The game is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) at the San Giacomo hall, starting at 20:00.

“We are aiming for victory, and we are not shying away from being the favorites. So far, we have proven our worth to compete in major tournaments. We will strive to maintain that standard going forward,” stated Branko Vujović from the Pula region.

Montenegro could potentially secure their World Cup position in southern Italy.

“We must approach this with complete focus and concentration, but this is just the first leg,” added the Hannover handball player.

Italy’s Advantages – Fans, Defense, and Goalkeeper Ebner

The “Azuri” reached this stage after a successful series of matches against Belgium back in March…

“Italy tends to excel at home, especially when supported by their fans. They focus heavily on defense and rely on their goalkeeper (Domenico Ebner, now with Leipzig), with whom I played last season. I believe if we maintain the right mindset and approach as before, we won’t encounter any issues,” Vujović emphasized.

Montenegro initially qualified for their first World Cup as underdogs against Sweden’s giants in 2012; a decade later, they were favored against Greece—eventually fulfilling that role and making it to the global competition for the second time.

Now, they find themselves as favorites once again…

“Being in this position is more challenging—there’s additional pressure and everyone expects us to advance to the World Cup. It’s a situation where other teams see us as a serious contender, and those less successful teams are much more focused and attentive to our capabilities. Our performance improves each year, and I hope this trend continues,” Vujović noted.

Kaluđerović: Everything Will Be Decided in “Morača”

Montenegro’s left back, Vasilije Kaluđerović, highlighted the parallels between the “lions” and the “Azure”.

“We anticipate a strong opponent that always gives its all—just as we do. Previous players from Montenegro, who had that fighting spirit, managed to overcome significant teams, so we must not take Italy lightly,” Kaluđerović warned.

What is the strategy for the first match?

“We must remain vigilant and disciplined, putting forth our best effort, so after this match, we can recuperate and prepare for the equally crucial second match,” he stated.

Kaluđerović also expressed that everything would be determined in the rematch in “Morača”…

“In this contest, we will gain clearer insights into their playing style and understand the level of competition we face. However, nothing will be finalized even if we achieve victory away from home—winning is the objective, but Sunday’s match is pivotal. We must take it one step at a time.”

Montenegro is on the hunt for their tenth major competition since the restoration of independence, while Italy hasn’t participated in one since 1998. Thus, it appears that only the “lions” could jeopardize their path to the World Cup due to any complacency.

“We are all feeling a sense of anticipation; I believe we’ve evolved enough not to repeat past mistakes—we have become a cohesive unit. This is a rejuvenated team, with seasoned players supporting us,” concluded Kaluđerović.

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