Vučević deserved a better ending, with a game like this, Montenegro did not deserve a trip to Riga

Nikola Vučević's tears in the mixed zone of the Nokia Arena in Tampere will remain the only image that will be remembered from Montenegro's fifth appearance at EuroBasket.

Everything else was forgotten, Montenegro suffered a shipwreck at the European Championship - In the decisive match for a place in the round of 89, they were defeated by the modest Great Britain (83:XNUMX).

They were defeated by a team that Sweden left at minus 19, Lithuania at 24, Finland at 30, and Germany at even 63. By a team that has not won at the European Championships since 2013.

Montenegro like this did not deserve a trip to Riga, but neither did Vučević - who gave his all in this match - see a sad end to his career in the national team jersey.

He "pulled" against the British, wanting at least one more match on the biggest stage, and in the fourth game he achieved a double-double (31 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists), but it was all in vain.

Boško Radović's team entered the match better, without a single shot during the first five minutes, and the scoreboard read 16:8.

And then, as if someone had turned off everything good in our game, an incomprehensible series of turnovers began (as many as 10 during the first 12 minutes, 13 in the first half), and the British played as if they had won everything so far.

They went into the break with a plus six (48:42), and it turned out that they always had an answer to Montenegro's attempts until the end.

And, our national team had several chances to turn the game around - both in the third and fourth quarters, but when they should have been calm, the Montenegrins made mistakes and gave Great Britain a chance.

With 54 seconds left, Vučević dunked to bring Montenegro down to minus two (85:83). The final blow from the inflated boys was expected, but Akwasi Jeboa scored four points, and Kyle Olman missed a three-pointer and put an end to Montenegro's torment in Tampere. 

The fact is that Montenegro went to EuroBasket very weakened, but if the defeats to Germany, Lithuania and Finland could be forgiven, the one to Great Britain cannot be forgiven - even with this squad.

The body language, desire and will throughout the tournament seemed to announce a deluge against the team that is also traveling home with Montenegro.

MONTENEGRO - GREAT BRITAIN 83:89 (26:25, 16:23, 21:20, 20:21)

Tampere - "Nokia arena". Attendance: 2.000. Referees: Cueca (Spain), Poursanidis (Greece), Horozov (Bulgaria).

Montenegro: OLMEN 14, MIHAILOVIC 10 (4-2), VUCEVIC 31 (7-5), SLAVKOVIC 11 (1-1), HADZIBEGOVIC 3, Simonovic 6 (4-4), Tomaševic, Vučeljic, Jovanovic 4, Zivanovic, Drobnjak 4 (2-2).

Great Britain: Hibert, Adamu, NELSON 12 (6-6), Watson-Gejl 11, Filip, Belo 6, JEBOA 23 (7-5), HESON 25 (6-6), VITL 4 (2-2), AKIN 8 (2-2), Velan.

The match is over, and so is Montenegro's torture at this Eurobasket - a team that cannot defeat humble Great Britain and does not deserve to advance.

Montenegro - Great Britain 89:83.

Nikola Vučević deserved a better farewell than a jersey with the national emblem.

Vučević scores (83:85), Akwasi Jeboa scores on the other side, and Olmen misses a three-pointer and it seems to put an end to Montenegro's hopes. 

After another mistake by Montenegro in the attack, Nelson won two free throws and hit both. With one minute and 11 seconds left, Montenegro was down four points (85:81). 

Unbelievable - Hesson quickly returned the three-pointer (83:81).

THREE-POINTER by Mihailović, the ball was not waiting, but in the end it went in, Montenegro finally leads (81:80).

But there's the incredible Vučević - 29th point, Crna Gra is down two (80:78) - two minutes and 19 seconds left.

Olmen's entire tournament was reflected in Montenegro's last two attacks - first he reduced the lead to 80:76 with a three-pointer, and then he threw the ball out of bounds with an unreal pass.

Nikola Vučević is doing his best, he has reached a double-double again (27 points, 11 rebounds), but so far he is not helping Montenegro. With three and a half minutes left, the British are leading (80:73).

Montenegro had several attacks to fully get back into the game, but they didn't take advantage of them, which the British know how to use - with just under five minutes left, they were up seven again, after a point from Luke Nelson, leading 78:71.

Montenegro is down one (72:71) - assist by Olmen and dunk by Vučević.

Nice breakthrough and a layup by Olmen, Montenegro is once again at minus three (72:69). It seems that our guys are missing a calmer approach to turn things around on the court.

Jibril Bello made a great start to the final quarter, Great Britain maintained the lead (72:67).

The third quarter is over, and Montenegro is still trailing (68:63). The decisive 10 minutes follow, Boško Radović's men have to do better.

Montenegro had two shots from outside the 6,75 line to finally take the lead, but a three-pointer came from the other end - Watson Gayle hit it for 68:63.

Nikola Vučević is playing phenomenally, hitting a new three-pointer to bring his score to 21 points, along with eight rebounds and five assists. Montenegro is down three (65:62) with a minute and a half left.

Great Britain holds plus six from the break - after a three-pointer by Mihailović for minus three, Jeboa returned it from outside the line 6,75. With four minutes left in the third quarter, the British lead 60:54.

Olmen scored Montenegro's first seven points in the first half, followed by Vučević in the second.

However, a new trio of British players quickly arrived, leading 55:49.

Vučević continues - three-pointer for minus three (47:50).

Nikola Vučević opens the second half with two new points (48:44).