Brno, Hamburg, Bologna and Athens are the centers of European women's basketball these days, and in the second largest city in the Czech Republic, Montenegro will be writing the eighth page at major competitions.
It seems that our ladies did not travel to the continental championship with ever lower expectations, where a difficult task awaits them in the first round - from 17.30:XNUMX PM in the "Sterez Arena Vodova" the selected Jelena Škerović they are playing against the Czech Republic.
- We came to give our best - the fact is that we have a weakened squad, but we do not neglect the goal of showing ourselves in the best light against the strongest, the Czech Republic and Belgium, as well as in the match against Portugal, where it is most realistic to seek victory - said coach Škerović.
And for a miracle at this point, to even qualify for the quarterfinals, the Montenegrins must be among the two best teams in the group - as they will later face Belgium, the European champions and Olympic semi-finalists, it is clear that they will have to do something today.
- The Czech Republic is our first rival and it might be our day to pull off a surprise - added the coach.
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Montenegro and the Czech Republic played each other's matches at the European Championships, and our national team won both - in 2015 it was 71:52, and four years later 70:59
Montenegro has played two matches with its current rival so far, both at EuroBasket and won both times - in 2015 and 2019. However, times have changed significantly.
- It is important that we open the championship well, that we play well. It is not a question of losing. But it is a difference to be 30 points behind or tied. We are not burdened - emphasized Jelena Škerović.
Our national team will compete at the European Championship for the first time without a naturalized player, after she did not travel to Brno due to an injury. Natasha Mack.
- The most important thing is to transfer the work from the preparatory period into this match, and then into the next two matches, and for this team to show its best performance - believes the coach.
The Fiba website doesn't give Montenegro much of a chance, seeing it in second-to-last place, but it expects a lot from it. Marija Lekovic.
- We are only thinking about the first game. We are aware of how much that match can mean, so we are very focused. We had enough time during the preparations to get ready for them, we even watched some of their games, we have scouting, so we know what we need to do - believes Leković.
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Montenegrin women's basketball players will make their debut at a major competition - Jelena Bulajić, Marija Baošić, Nikolina Ilić and Andrea Glomazić
And Valencia's new basketball player knows very well how much she will miss Natasa Mack.
- We will miss all the players who are injured and not with us, and we will certainly be particularly weakened by her not playing, but what is there is there. We have a team that represents a combination of youth and experience, which is eager to leave the best impression possible - concluded Marija Leković.
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