Defense Wasn’t the Issue; It Was the Minor Offensive Details That Let Us Down.
Hungary showcased superior performance at the “MTEL Morača Hall”, and the Montenegrin national team will have another opportunity on Sunday to demonstrate that they are close to meeting top handball standards.
The “Lions” faced their first defeat in Podgorica during the European Championship qualifiers, significantly diminishing their chances of topping the group. However, their spot in the continental competition remains secure, thanks to Didier Dinar’s team’s victories over Finland and Slovakia in the initial rounds.
In just two days in Tatabanja, Montenegro will compete again against Hungary, with the goal of showcasing improvement from their previous match in Podgorica. A win is essential for maintaining their pursuit of first place.
“We could have performed better in the first match; the loss was tough on us all. Home games mean a lot to us, and we leave emotionally drained after each one… But, it’s a fresh opportunity against the Hungarians, and we know there were things we could improve on from the last game. Therefore, we need to prepare thoroughly and aim to surprise them,” stated right-back Stefan Čavor.
Montenegro lacked patience in their attacking strategy during the first encounter, allowing their experienced opponent to capitalize on that weakness.
“The start was poor. We approached the game too passively. We will definitely rectify these issues, particularly regarding the defense, which was notably aggressive but had moments of vulnerability. Still, we also executed some solid plays in the second half,” Čavor emphasized.
A key focus for the Montenegrin handball players ahead of their away match in Tatabanja will be to contain Hungarian pivot Miklos Rosta, who netted nine goals in Podgorica.
“We recognized the strength of the Hungarian pivots. Rosta had an exceptional performance in Podgorica, and we’ll strive to defend against him effectively. Additionally, their shooters are competent from outside positions. This will be a challenging task, but I believe the defense issues stemmed more from our offensive errors that cost us the desired result,” Čavor concluded.
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