The moment is getting closer, for which the Montenegrin footballers have been preparing practically since the first day when Robert Prosinečki took over the position of selector.
B League of Nations begins, Montenegro will play its first match in Iceland on September 6, three days later it will host Wales in Nikšić, and it will be the first competitive matches since November last year and qualification for the European Championship.
"Through four friendly matches, we saw what was good and what we need to improve. I expect a good result in the next duels. We have personnel problems, but we are not whining, that's how it is in sports," said Prosinečki before the first training session of the national team.
The problems are as follows - the Croatian coach cannot count on Marko Janković, Edvin Kuč and Vasilij Adžić before Iceland and Wales, while the performance of Igor Vujačić is also questionable.
"Due to an injury, he was replaced in the first half against Rubin. He will undergo examinations, so we will see what it is about, although he will probably drop out as well. I hope that the other players will stay healthy. He is happy that Adam Marušić played the second half for Lazio, that Marko Vešović was in the Karabagh team... There are, therefore, good things," says Prosinečki.
Iceland is a serious team.
"It's a solid team, they play in a 4-4-2 system. Icelanders defeated England in a friendly match. They are aggressive and good, especially when they play at home. They have players in good clubs, they showed quality in the playoffs for the European Championship, even though they were eliminated by Ukraine. However, they also have flaws - we will try to take advantage of that," said Prosinečki.
Our selection will certainly wonder. More precisely, Prosinečki wants it to be so.
"We have a team that can play with everyone, we want to show that in Iceland as well. I think a lot, but I still don't know how we will look in Reykjavik, probably the same as in the previous matches - with the desire to constantly try to outplay each other. I don't know any other way than to play to the end and to win. After Iceland, we play Wales, who were also eliminated in the playoffs for the Euro. They are certainly two good national teams, and Turkey surprised us all at the European Championship, where they played outstandingly. With Vincenzo Montel on the bench, she changed a lot of things"...
Stevan Jovetić still does not have a club, after leaving Olympiakos.
"There is no problem with Stevan. He trained with Arsenal, in the last weeks in Budućnost. The problem would be that five or six players do not get minutes at all in the clubs, this is how more or less everyone plays, some even too much. All of them are standard and that makes us happy, they have a competitive rhythm", added Prosinečki.
On the list are midfielders Novica Eraković and Ilija Vukotić, returning to the national team.
"They play standard. Vuković is constant in Boavista, in a strong Portuguese league, that means he has quality. And it is a little different from others. Eraković is back after a serious injury and is playing well for Omonia. I watched him against Zira in a 6:0 victory, in the second leg as well, it was clear that he had no problems after a long break. Those are the alternatives we decided on, also Milan Vukotić from Budućnost is a specific player and can solve some games, bring something to the national team. There is also Viktor Đukanović, who is still wanted, Standard is a new challenge for him, and in Belgium they play different football than in Sweden".
A new face is also the striker of Budućnost, 20-year-old Vladimir Perišić, who should continue his career in Slavia from Prague.
"Maybe it's a surprise to someone. I followed Budućnost all the time - he went to Slavia from Prague, so I wasn't the only one who saw the quality in him. Slavija is a big club, and Perišić "has something". He has quality, he is not afraid, he knows how to score a goal... Both in Europe and in the domestic championship, he showed that he is a very interesting footballer and represents the future of Montenegrin football", concluded Prosinečki.
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