The handball teams of Montenegro and Serbia are set to face each other once again—this time at the kickoff of the European Championship taking place in Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland.

This neighboring rivalry is slated for Friday at 20:30 in Debrecen, where the “Lionesses” are gearing up for a fierce contest.

“The team that shows greater desire, heart, and is stronger on defense will emerge victorious,” stated Marija Petrović, one of the seasoned players on the Serbian national team.

As she gears up to lead Serbia’s defense, Petrović commented on Montenegro’s style under new coach Suzana Lazović, suggesting their aggressive defense is consistent…

“I believe their play style remains the same, regardless of the coach. Our focus should be on ourselves, playing with intensity, combativeness, and aggression to counter their game. The team that ‘fights’ harder will win this matchup,” Petrović added in an interview with the Handball Association of Serbia’s portal.

She also noted that there isn’t much complexity to preparing for this match.

“I think they carry more pressure while we can stay relaxed. We need to sharpen our defense overall, especially against Montenegro, as this is the first and most crucial game of the championship. The opening match is always the toughest, especially against an opponent like this; we must be ready,” concluded Marija Petrović.

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