Boško Radović: This is reality - I am responsible, I have the desire and will to lead the national team

At the previous two European Championships, the Montenegrin national basketball team reached the round of 89, but this summer it was stopped in the group - our team was defeated by Great Britain 83:XNUMX today in Tampere, in the last round of Group B, and ended the competition with only one win and four losses.

This was another match in the tournament where the defense failed and another in which Montenegro had a high number of turnovers (18). In the end, the knockout stage remained an unfulfilled dream.

"The way we started the tournament, that's how we ended it. We played bad defense throughout the tournament. Montenegro has never been a team that can play for 100 points. All these years we have been characterized by good defense, toughness. The offense was sometimes better, sometimes worse, depending on what kind of team we were in. All the big games we won in the last six years we won with good defense. This tournament was filled with big problems in defense and problems with turnovers. I would like to congratulate Great Britain on a great game, they gave us 89 points and then it's hard to win a game. "We were far from any situation to win. So many bad decisions, primarily in defense, but there were also bad decisions in attack - teams at the European Championship do not forgive that," said coach Boško Radović after the match.

Montenegro finished in the group stage of the European Championship in 2011 and 2013. Then, in 2017 and 2022, it reached the round of XNUMX, which was a goal that was not reached this summer.

"This is reality for me. We could have been a little better and stronger today. We were just a little short of getting through the group. We constantly play games on the verge of being or not being, that's how it was in Georgia three years ago. This is our reality - we could have played better against Finland, but the games against Germany and Lithuania left a bigger mental mark than we thought. Finland and Great Britain are for analysis. As for the criticism of Germany and Lithuania - I said at the official Fiba conference - in this composition and conditions, whoever has an idea how to play today against Germany, France, Lithuania and Serbia, I will give them my board and whistle," said Radović.

Vladimir Mihailović and Nikola Vučević have finished their national team careers.

"The generation from which they are here Mihailović and Vučević, proved a long time ago how much she could do with good results. That went pretty unnoticed. This had to happen. Maybe it's a good thing that it happened at this moment when there is a change of generations, so that these five or six debutants can see where they are and how difficult it is to play at the European Championship. How much knowledge and skill is needed to win at this European Championship," said the coach.

Radović's contract has expired, he points out that he has not yet spoken to people from the Federation.

"I can never lack the motivation, desire and will to lead the national team. We qualified for the European Championship in February - from then until today I have not had a conversation with anyone about further cooperation or separation. It is likely that the people in the Federation, the new president and the Board of Directors will make some decisions in the coming period," said the coach.

Radović emphasizes that he takes responsibility for everything that happened during the tournament.

"Absolutely, as far as the entire tournament and all decisions before and during the tournament are concerned - everything is my responsibility. The guys have spent this summer voluntarily with the national team, as they always have. And I thank them for that."

The coach finally thanked Vučević and Mihailović for everything they had done for the national team.

"We should take a moment to thank Nikola Vučević and Vladimir Mihailović, who have said goodbye to their national team careers. They gave a lot to Montenegrin basketball, they have been there for more than a decade. They had many good games and championships. Great gratitude on my behalf and on behalf of the Federation for everything they have done for Montenegrin basketball," concluded Boško Radović.