Motive to heaven: Montenegro seeks victory for Olympic qualifications

When you look at the picture realistically, Montenegrin basketball players have already done a lot at the European Championship. They recorded three victories, played in the quarter-finals where they were met by a very strong France and won convincingly (89:46), and in order to leave a very good impression, they need to "red" the competition and finish in the right way.

More precisely, they should only be right today (14.45:5 p.m.), the way they were in the duels with Greece and Latvia in the group, and Italy in the round of 8 - to beat Serbia in the first match of the play-off from XNUMXth to XNUMXth place, which would be enough to be chosen Jelena Škerović qualify for the Olympic Games.

The stake is, therefore, huge, and it is expected that the composition of Montenegro will include Milica Jovanovic who played only three and a half minutes in the quarterfinals due to a calf injury.

"A trench battle awaits us, Serbia plays very aggressively in defense and presses all over the field, so it will certainly be difficult. First of all, physically. We know how the girls should react in such situations, we are preparing for it. We hope to implement the ideas into action and that we will be calm," Škerović said.

The defeat against the French women, as much as it was expected, may have slightly shaken the confidence of our national team. Because, the dream of the semi-finals was cut short in a cruel way in a match in which the favorite was demanding higher quality for all 40 minutes.

"For sure, that match had an effect on us, it didn't matter. There was some euphoria before the quarterfinals, the girls dreamed that they could beat France and that's all normal. And when reality "hits you" - then it's not easy. I think the players through the talks, they understood some things and that they have energy before this game. I believe that the duel with France is behind us, we are all thinking about Serbia now," said the coach.

Montenegro knows Serbia well - the two teams met in preparation for Eurobasket.

"Those two games showed us some things, although the rival at the European Championship is in a stronger composition than it was then. However, it plays the same - at a high level and we have to give everything," said Jelena Škerović.

Maja Bigovic, a 20-year-old center, believes that our selection has a chance to reach the Olympic qualifications.

"We are aware that we have reached this stage thanks to great effort and work, as well as that Serbia has been on the big stage for a long time - that it has many medals and experience. We have to enter the match strong, to stay focused. Against France, it was obvious that is a rival physically much stronger than us, but I think we can play with Serbia," said Bigović.

Serbia came to Eurobasket as the current champion of the Old Continent, but it was immediately clear that they were the chosen ones Marine Maljkovic far from a chance to defend the title. Belgium had no mercy in the quarter-finals, so the Serbian women were forced to compete against our selection.

"Neither for us nor for Montenegro, there is currently a greater motivation than having the opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games. I believe that both teams will be extremely motivated and will do everything to play a good game. As for us, there is no the need to look at what was or what could have been. We are aware of the mistakes we made, but we have to think about the next opponent and let the fact that the triumph would take us to the Olympic qualifications be a sufficient motivation for us," said the captain of Serbia Tina Krajisnik.

Today's program in Ljubljana's "Stožice" opens at noon with the Czech Republic and Germany in the battle for the 5th to 8th place, and after the duel between Montenegro and Serbia, the semi-final matches will be played - from 17.45:20.45 Spain and Hungary will play, and at XNUMX:XNUMX Belgium and France.