The national football team of Montenegro will play Iceland from 18:XNUMX in Nikšić, it will be the penultimate match of the group of four B Nations League. Our team has no points after four rounds, is close to being relegated, and in the first four games it did not show that it deserves a place in the second tier of European football. Along with Finland, it is the only selection without points in all four groups.
Can the impression change in the last two matches or is it too late for that - in any case, after the duel with Iceland, the Montenegrin footballers will either remain in the game for survival or will mathematically move to League C, where they were four years ago year.
- Surely this is not a good period and we are aware of that, but surely we deserved more than the table shows. The match with Iceland should be an opportunity for a new start, and as long as there is a chance to keep our status in the B League, we believe we can. There are six points in circulation. The goal is to beat Iceland - said the left back Risto Radunovic.
Including two friendly matches in June, Montenegro is in a series of six defeats - a negative streak that cannot be remembered, that no one could have even guessed would happen.
- It's not pleasant, but the result is what it is. We have two games, we are focused on Iceland. Naturally, we want to end the black streak, but it won't be easy. Iceland is dangerous, it is a team that has been together for a long time, it is strong from the break, with an excellent transition. But the boys worked well these days, now we have to transfer that to the field - said the coach Robert Prosinecki.
TWO MORE TESTS AND ANALYSIS
The next two matches, against Iceland and Turkey, could in a way be the last tests for Prosinečki, who has a contract with the Football Association until the end of the year.
- Every match is a test, and so it is with this one. The most important thing is that the players enter the match properly, so we will analyze everything when the League of Nations cycle is over - said Prosinečki.
There was a lot that was not right in the game of Montenegro until now. The results speak for themselves, there were also mistakes that are unforgivable at this level of football - such as two conceded goals from Iceland from a corner, two conceded goals from Wales in Nikšić in less than three minutes, a conceded goal in Cardiff from a penalty made in a not so dangerous situation...
- I don't remember, neither as a player nor as a coach, that my team conceded two goals in three minutes, but the reaction of the players against Wales was excellent. In some "madness" we could have won that match. I'm particularly angry, though, about the two stoppage-time goals against Iceland, even though that's exactly what we were focusing on. We have to be completely focused, that is very important - said Prosinečki.
Montenegro is in trouble again - Stefan Savic will skip the whole cycle, young ones Vasilije Adžić no way to make a debut, not even Slobodan Rubežić, and neither against Iceland Stevan Jovetić because of the cardboard...
- Since we started, we have always had problems with injuries, and these are very important players for Montenegro. However, we will not whine. We want to do the match as best as we can, first Iceland and then Turkey, so we will analyze everything - said Prosinečki.
RADULOVIĆ DESERVED A CHANCE
Prosinečki announced the team that will start the match against Iceland - they will be on the field from the first minute Andrija Radulović, who "convinced" the coach in Cardiff that he deserves a chance from the start.
- He gives energy, he did that in Wales when he came in. Not because of the crossbar he hit, but because of the characteristics - he has a one-on-one game, which we lack. And through the matches in Vojvodina, he showed that he deserves an opportunity - said the coach.
The duel with Iceland will start like that Igor Nikić on goal, in defense Adam Marušić, Igor Vujacić, Nikola Šipčić and Radunović, in the middle Marko Bakic i Marko Jankovic, including Vladimir Jovovich, on the wings Dryton Camaj and Radulović, in attack Nikola Krstović.
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