In their 27 matches at the European championships, Montenegrin handball players have achieved four victories, all against teams from the former Yugoslavia. The first win, which fans had been waiting for 12 long years, occurred on January 11, 2020, against Serbia in Graz (22:21). In 2022, they dominated North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Croatia in Debrecen and Budapest, marking their best finish in major competitions with an 11th place.

As they bid farewell to the European championship in Germany, the “lions” are set to face off against Serbia tonight (6 PM), the only team against which they hold a favorable record. The stakes are high—not only does the neighboring derby carry extra intensity, but a win would significantly boost Vlad Šola’s team’s position before the draw for the World Cup in Norway, Denmark, and Croatia.

The “eagles” are also fighting for their chances; with a victory, they would keep their hopes alive for advancing to the main stage, depending on whether Hungary can defeat Iceland and carry their southern neighbors along to the “Lankses Arena” in Cologne.

– Every match is crucial for Montenegro as if it were our last, and the same goes for the upcoming game against Serbia – stated Lions’ captain Mirko Radović.

After two devastating losses against Hungary and Iceland, where they had opportunities to tie, even the most seasoned players were affected—Nebojša Simić couldn’t hold back tears, and Radović also showed emotion. However, it is time to focus on the massive importance of the match against Serbia. In the World Cup playoffs, it would undoubtedly be easier to face teams from the second hat, especially if it involves Serbia or the formidable Faroe Islands, compared to facing potential opponents from the first hat, such as Hungary, Iceland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, or even Spain and Sweden.

This will mark the 10th encounter at the European championships between Montenegrin handball players and former Yugoslavian teams. They hold a record of 1:2 against Slovenia and Croatia, 1:1 against North Macedonia, and lead against tonight’s adversary, having previously defeated them 22:21 in Graz, Austria in 2020.

– For us, maintaining participation in major competitions is vital—it defines us and fosters the national team’s legacy. Hence, we are determined to win against Serbia to ensure a more advantageous position in the playoffs. We will prepare thoroughly and put everything on the line to emerge victorious – Radović promised.

The “Lions” had chances to secure draws against Hungary and Iceland, but Branko Vujović and Vuko Borozan faced misfortune.

– It’s hard to comprehend that after such two matches, we have no points, and the outcome of first and last place in the group hinges on one or two goals. We were aware that this group would be incredibly challenging, but fortune hasn’t favored us – emphasized the 33-year-old Cetinje native.

This matchup will be the fourth meeting between Montenegro and Serbia; in the previous three encounters, besides the victory in Graz, the “lions” also faced a defeat in Belgrade (25:21) and a draw in Bar (25:25) during the qualifiers for EHF Euro 2016.

In round one in Munich, the Eagles were ahead of Iceland 27:24 in the 59th minute, but allowed three goals in the final 100 seconds. They narrowly lost to Hungary 28:27 on Sunday, although the match was decided long before the final score indicated.

– Serbia has proven to be a strong competitor, and facing them will be challenging. They have excellent pivots, wings, and goalkeepers; adapting to their style of play will be tough for us – warned Stefan Čavor.

The right back from the German team Weclar believes Montenegro demonstrated potential in their opening matches against formidable opponents but recognizes that they could have performed better.

– Both games were tight until the final moments, but there were aspects we could have improved. We committed many technical errors against Hungary and fewer against Iceland, but our defense needs to tighten up to maintain our structure. The game with Serbia is vital for our World Cup playoff aspirations. We aim to conclude the championship with a win – Čavor concluded.

Girona: A challenging opponent; Simić in top form

Having squandered a three-goal lead against Iceland in the last 100 seconds and losing to Hungary, Serbia now finds itself reliant on others for a chance to advance. They must defeat Montenegro and then hope for Hungary to triumph over Iceland to keep their Olympic hopes alive. However, this path is fraught with difficulty, as they would face heavyweights like Germany, France, Croatia, and Spain in Group 1 of the main stage in Cologne.

– We’re aware that Hungary will be fighting for two points, but we must focus on our performance against Montenegro. We’re up against a very aggressive team, especially defensively. Nebojsa Simić is in outstanding form, but I have faith in my squad. We need to secure the win by a sufficient margin and then wait for the outcome of the second game, as it represents our last shot at reaching Cologne – commented Eagles’ coach Toni Gerona.

TODAY:

SERBIA – MONTENEGRO (18),

ICELAND – HUNGARY (20.30).

News