The renowned sports venue in Munich, the Olympic Park, will soon host an exciting handball event, marking Montenegro’s participation for the seventh time in its history.

The “Lions” are currently finalizing their preparations, which began seven days ago ahead of the European Championship set to commence in Germany on January 10.

Coach Vlado Šola now has all the invited players available, with the exception of goalkeepers Nebojša Simić and Nikola Matović, as well as right back Risto Vujačić, who will be joining the national team on Saturday.

Among the newcomers is Montenegro’s right back Stefan Čavor.

“We are making good progress. This is a new national team, and the coach has been with us for about half a year. Organizing everything has been challenging across the three cycles we’ve had so far, but we’re progressing steadily, building our form and preparing to the best of our abilities,” Čavor remarked.

Montenegro will face Hungary (January 12), Iceland (January 14), and Serbia (January 16) in Munich, with the top two teams advancing to the main round.

“At this point, we can’t say much about the group. Our goal is to reach the second stage, but we’re aware that we have three tough opponents and a significant challenge ahead,” Čavor added.

The “Lions” will have their first test match prior to the EP on Friday in Stara Pazova against North Macedonia, followed by matches with Croatia and Slovenia on January 4 and 5 in Poreč.

“These are three great matches against Croatia, Slovenia, and North Macedonia. It’s crucial that we are dedicating ample time to our preparations, and as I mentioned, we’re diligently working to achieve our best form,” highlighted the defender from Germany’s Veclar.

Earlier in November, Vlad Šola’s squad demonstrated steady improvement in their performance during the EHF week against Romania (38:28) following less favorable results in the qualifiers and a defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The match against Romania showcased our quality, particularly after the games with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but being a friendly match means we shouldn’t weigh it too heavily,” added Čavor.

Kaluđerović: Step by Step

Montenegro’s second guard, Vasilije Kaluđerović, shares similar sentiments with his teammate Čavor.

“The group is very challenging, but we need to approach it step by step. Our focus shouldn’t be on any one opponent in particular, as every match carries its own significance. We will give our all, and whatever happens, happens,” Kaluđerović stated.

It’s encouraging to see the camaraderie among the “Lions.”

“The positive energy is palpable both in training and outside of it. We are putting forth our best efforts in preparation and taking things step by step… This is the earliest we’ve started preparations, which will benefit us in upcoming test matches. I hope we will be ready for the championship,” concluded Kaluđerović.

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