The match against one of the favorites in the European Championship for U17 players in Podgorica was not without its surprises.

Montenegro managed to hold France at bay for a significant portion of the game, even establishing a two-goal lead early in the second half. However, the superior quality of the French team ultimately prevailed, leading to Montenegro’s first defeat (30:25) following their opening win against Lithuania.

After a break day, the talented squad coached by Miloš Perović and Bobana Krstović will face the Czech Republic on Saturday, vying for a spot in the main round.

The encounter in the “Verde” hall was filled with suspense, with Montenegro gaining a slight advantage five times in the first half. Nevertheless, France went into halftime with a narrow lead of 11:10. An impressive start to the second half saw Montenegro surge ahead with three consecutive goals, taking a 13:11 lead in the 35th minute, courtesy of Maša Ulićević, hinting at a potential upset.

Despite this, France responded with a 10:3 scoring run, establishing a 22:17 lead.

In the closing minutes, Montenegro did manage to narrow the gap to two goals (25:23), but France effectively thwarted any further attempts.

Maša Dubljević stood out as the player of the match, making 15 saves. Martina Knežević led in scoring with seven goals, while Anđelina Orbović and Maša Ulićević each contributed four goals.

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