The Montenegro men’s handball team is set to face either Belgium or Italy in the World Cup qualifiers, as determined by today’s draw.

Belgium and Italy are scheduled to compete in March during the pre-qualifications.

The “Lions” will play their first match away on May 8 or 9, with the return leg in Montenegro on May 11 or 12.

Recently, Montenegro secured the 3rd position in Group C at the European Championship, finishing 14th overall, which earned them a spot in the first hat for the World Cup play-off.

“We’ve drawn a favorable opponent, although we will know for sure in March whether we will play against Belgium or Italy in May. Regardless of the opponent, we need to stay sharp and completely focused; underestimating them is not an option. Our seriousness and focus must match that of the European Championship, showing respect for our opponent during both the preparations and the matches in May,” coach Vlado Šola emphasized.

The “Lions” faced defeats against Hungary and Iceland during the European Championship but managed a victory over Serbia, which secured their place in today’s draw’s first hat.

In contrast, Serbia drew a challenging opponent, as they will face world handball giants, Spain, in the play-off.

“The key is for all our players, including those who participated in the EHF Euro 2024 and those on the broader roster, to remain healthy. Starting tomorrow, the coaching staff will work on gathering video materials to begin analyzing our potential opponents, whom we will know better come March when they meet,” Šola concluded.

The World Handball Championship is scheduled to take place from January 14 to February 2, 2025, across Croatia, Norway, and Denmark.

News