The Boys Battled a Lion for 60 Minutes: A Tale of Montenegrin Spirit and Heartfelt Sadness
Photo: Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP
Vlado Šola, echoing the sentiments of the Montenegro squad, felt disheartened following the defeat against Iceland.
Nevertheless, he expressed immense pride in his players.
“I want to commend the team; they played the entire 60 minutes with true Montenegrin heart and spirit. This was the essence of Montenegro. Unfortunately, we faced some misfortune at the end, with the line crossed and the wrong substitution made. The footage is there, so what can we do now? The disappointment is heavy,” Šola referenced the dismissal of Luka Radović with just 88 seconds remaining.
The Croatian coach mentioned that before the match, he reassured his players that they were superior to the Icelandic team.
“We discussed our performance today. There’s a perception that Iceland is a formidable adversary, but I asserted that we have individual talents that outshine theirs. It’s a misconception that players from the west are inherently better.”
Šola continued, speaking quietly.
“Maturing as a team takes time, and we have many young talents here. It would be a pity if they don’t carry on from here; I hope they all reach top clubs and continue representing Montenegro well. I appreciate everyone’s effort. However, the tournament isn’t over; I want to see a similar performance against Serbia.”
Once more, the chance for a crucial point slipped away in the final moments.
“We played both matches in Lviv, and against Hungary, we were our own worst enemies. Clearly, we are showing that we possess potential.”
In the game against Hungary, Arsenije Dragasevic, who missed tonight’s match due to a knee injury, had an outstanding performance. His fellow Pljevlja native, Radojica Čepić, 21, excelled and brought back memories of his performances during the previous European Championship.
“Every top athlete must navigate challenges like mistakes and setbacks… Rising from self-doubt, something Čepić has dealt with numerous times in the past two years, is what forges a true player. I also want to highlight that Simić was exceptional today; all my players performed admirably,” Šola concluded.
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