As she embarks on the journey toward her eighth consecutive European Championship, Milena Raičević ignited the “lionesses” to victory against Turkey.

Ultimately, Montenegro faced little challenge against the underdogs, but no one anticipated that the iconic handball player would be absent from the red jersey in the upcoming year. This changed last September with the arrival of the new coach, Suzana Lazović.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the national team again—this is a new squad prepared to achieve great things under our new coach,” Milena expressed upon her return to the “lionesses.”

After previously taking legal action against Buducnost for unpaid wages during her pregnancy, Milena found herself sidelined from the national team. Her absence was glaringly obvious during the World Cup and throughout the qualifiers against Serbia, including their rematch with Turkey and the Olympic qualifiers in Ulm.

“I am pleased that Suzana is the head coach; she earned this role through her hard work and dedication. We are all professionals—she as the coach, and I as a player. There won’t be any hindrances,” Milena remarked before her first training session during the EHF week.

Following a setback in the Olympic Games qualifiers for Paris, the Lionesses are eager to reclaim their winning ways.

“This is our first gathering with a significant number of players; we’re diving in with energy from day one, which is vital for the team to regain the character that has always defined this national team,” Milena emphasized. “We want to foster that spirit right from the start, and everything else will stem from our diligent training, commitment, and ambition.”

Montenegro’s success is rooted in its renowned defense, with today’s coach Suzana Lazović having been a standout in that area.

“Defense is our strongest asset – a national team with solid defense can address most challenges. Of course, a strong attack is essential too, but everything originates from our defense,” highlighted the Rapida handball player based in Bucharest.

The initial match against Turkey feels like a distant memory, and by the end of November, our national team will gear up for the European Championship, where the “lionesses” will benefit from the presence of a formidable middle back.

“No matter how busy our club commitments may be, we must carve out time for the national team,” Milena affirmed.

The EHF Euro will take place across Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland, with Montenegro set to face Serbia, Romania, and the Czech Republic in the group stages held in Debrecen.

“We find ourselves in a strong group; preparatory games are on the horizon, and we have much work ahead of us before the European Championship, just like every year,” Milena concluded.

A word from the debutant: I come from the strongest league, so self-confidence is not an issue

Suzana Lazović has named four debutantes in her first selection, including Andrijana Tatar, the pivot player from Romanian Minaur.

“It’s an incredible feeling; every athlete aspires to be part of the national team, and I’m thankful to the coach for this opportunity. We all know about our fighting spirit; personally, I consider myself a fierce competitor. Playing in a Romanian team that competes in Europe’s top league instills me with great self-confidence. I aim to live up to this call-up,” shared Andrijana.

News