Last week, handball players took center stage as they qualified for the European Championship. This week, Montenegrin handball players, known as the “lions,” will gather in Podgorica on Monday for training during EHF week, culminating in matches against Georgia on Friday and Saturday.

These games will serve as the final assessments before the World Cup play-offs, where the team will face the winner of the Belgium – Italy matchup away on May 8 or 9, or at home three days later.

The Croatian coach has called up 23 players, including five from Lovcen: the national team captain Mirko Radovic, backs Filip Krivokapić and Milorad Bakić, and pivots Mihailo Scekic and Luka Vujović.

Circle forwards have previously been part of the national team setup, especially during combined selections, while both Krivokapić and the 19-year-old Bakić, brother of established player Aleksandar Bakić, are set to join the “lions” for the first time.

In contrast to the squad that participated in the European Championship in January, securing a 14th place finish, Bož Anđelić and Miloš Božović will not be present.

Longtime national team members expressed dissatisfaction due to limited playtime during the tournament in Munich. As reported by “Vijesti,” they informed Šola that they would not participate in national team activities while he remains head coach.

Božović struggled to secure a position, often viewed as the fourth or fifth option among left backs, while Anđelić, the only true center back (with Radojica Čepić capable of playing left and center), did not receive a chance to showcase his skills.

In addition to these two players, Stevan Vujović has effectively concluded his national team career after being dropped in the initial filter for the EHF Euro. Vladan Lipovina has opted out of returning, and Nebojsa Simovic has also not been summoned.

In place of Anđelić and Božović, Krivokapić and Bakić from Lovcen have been brought onto the roster, with five pivots now included. Montenegro was unique in having two players in that position during the European Championship.

Joining standard players Nemanja Grbović and Vuk Lazović are Šćekić, Vujović, and Miodrag Ćorsović, who were also cut from the EP roster, which was trimmed from 21 to 18 players.

List – Goalkeepers

Nebojsa Simic (Melzungen, Germany)

Nikola Matovic (Amo, Sweden)

Haris Suljević (Scout, BiH)

Wings

Miloš Vujović (Gummerzbach, Germany)

Aleksandar Bakić (Nekse, Croatia)

Filip Vujović (Benidorm, Spain)

Mirko Radovic (Hunted)

Luka Radovic (Saran, France)

Vojislav Vukić (Krka, Slovenia)

Backs

Radojica Čepić (Krinss Lucerne, Switzerland)

Filip Krivokapić (Hunted)

Vasilije Kaluđerović (Al Qadsiya, Kuwait)

Milorad Bakić (Hunted)

Arsenije Dragasevic (Meshkov Brest, Belarus)

Vuko Borozan (Al Hada, Saudi Arabia)

Branko Vujović (Hanover, Germany)

Stefan Čavor (Veclar, Germany)

Risto Vujacic (Hapoel Ashdod, Israel)

Pivots

Vuk Lazovic (Meshkov Brest)

Nemanja Grbović (Steaua, Romania)

Miodrag Ćorsović (Trimo Trebnje, Slovenia)

Mihailo Scekic (Hunted)

Luka Vujović (Hunted)

It’s Official – The “Lionesses” Compete in Group B in Debrecen

Before the qualifiers for the European Championship in Hungary, Austria, and Switzerland commenced, the organizers planned for the Montenegrin handball team to play their group stage in Debrecen.

Now that the “lionesses” have secured their visa, it is confirmed that Bojana Popović’s squad will compete in group B in Debrecen, and it remains to be seen whether they will be drawn from the first pool.

Hungary will also compete in Debrecen, in group A, and France in group C in Basel. These two teams are very likely to be among Montenegro’s opponents in the main stage, as the best two teams from groups A, B, and C will move onto the main round. The top two teams from the newly formed group 1 will qualify for the semi-finals, which are set to be held at Vienna’s “Stathalle.”

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