The Montenegrin national football team will try to play a good match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite the absence of as many as 13 football players, including the best ones, in order to benefit before the September continuation of the qualifications, is the message of coach Miodrag Radulović.
"Falcons" arrived in Sarajevo yesterday morning on the premiere flight of the new Montenegrin national airline "To Montenegro", and in the afternoon the football players trained at Grbavica, the Željeznicara stadium, where tonight's match will be played.
This will not be the only test in June, Montenegro will meet Israel on Saturday in Gorica, also in a friendly match.
- As I already said, we had a completely different concept of working in training and how we would play these two games. In addition to all the injuries you are already familiar with, we also have Šćekić, who failed to recover from the injury from the Cup final, while we don't want to take any chances with Savić, who had an extremely hard and successful season. The players who are there should show that they are a real part of the national team and repeat the games from the clubs here as well, to show that they have the quality we need for the September matches - said Radulović at the press conference.
It will be the second meeting between the best selections of BiH and Montenegro - three years ago, also in a friendly match, in Zenica, the nets were still (0:0).
The Bosnians will also be weakened this time, without the main players Džeko, Pjanić, Višća, Kolašinac... so it is expected that their coach, the Bulgarian Ivailo Petev, will give a chance to the players who have had less minutes so far.
Radulović, on the other hand, was forced to do it.
- These are the only friendly matches we will have this year. We will give a chance to players who had less playing time and to new players, to show what they can do in one strong match. I believe that we will play a good game and that we will get a benefit for the September matches - said Radulović, who did not make a decision on the starting eleven until yesterday afternoon.
It is certain that she is cut by injuries and absences...
- I still haven't decided who will start. I have a few doubts, until yesterday we were also thinking about the system in which we will perform... In these two matches, we will try two systems, that's why friendly matches are for it - pointed out Radulović.
A possible variant could, however, be: Šarkić or Dragojević in goal, Vukčević, Vujačić, Simić and Tomašević in defense, Savićević and Kosović as rear midfielders, Vešović, Jovović and Hakšabanović in front of them, and Bećiraj in attack.
Marko Vešović, the former player of Legia from Warsaw, should play his first match today at Grbavica after almost a year's break due to a serious injury and knee surgery.
- I'm happy to be here again, overjoyed to be back after a long break. I can't wait for the game, I can't wait to run out on the field again in the national team jersey - said Vešović, who recently parted ways with Legija after his contract expired.
The matches for the national team and the minutes he gets may help him and speed up the process of looking for a new club, and the first chance is in Sarajevo.
- Honestly, I wouldn't look at the opponent. They, just like us, have composition problems. I think that something good can come out of every problem and every guy who gets a chance to play will definitely be motivated to play as well as possible. The match is of a friendly nature, but I think it will be a real competition on the field because we all want to make the best possible result - Vešović said.
"Dragons" are looking for a triumph after a year and a half
Like the Montenegrin national team, the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina is weakened by injuries and absences, but coach Ivailo Petev expects victory despite everything.
- I want us to play a good game, to be responsible and to win. Considering that we have a lot of new players on the roster, we will try them all. However, it is important to maintain our game system and to progress - said the Bulgarian expert, former coach of Dinamo Zagreb.
- Montenegro is a good team and it will not be easy. Our approach is important, that the players support each other on the field and then there will be no problems - added Petev.
Ibrahim Šehić, the goalkeeper of Turkish Konijaspor, also expects to win.
- We haven't won in a long time and we talked about it a lot. Positive results are also important for self-confidence, which we will certainly need in the qualifications - said Šehić.
In March, at the start of the qualifiers, the "Dragons" drew in Finland (2:2) and lost at home to France 1:0. They recorded their last triumph back in November 2019 against Liechtenstein.
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