From the special reporter "Vijesti"
The first “blow” on the big stage hurt. Not so much because of the force of the blow, but because of the time in which it was received. The youth football team of Montenegro was left without a point in the premiere of the European Championship against Romania in the last minute (2:1), in a match in which, with its fighting spirit, and for a good part of the match and other football parameters, it was worthy of the biggest stage. The result, however, is remembered, and the boys Nenad Vukčević they have to look ahead.
A new challenge awaits today at 17 pm at the Rapida Stadium in Bucharest - a duel with Denmark. A physically dominant, tactically organized and stable team that played an even match against the favorites Spain and lost minimally (1:0). A big challenge for Montenegro, but such challenges are also a test of character.
Even after the painful defeat, and on the eve of an even tougher match, coach Vukčević reiterated that his team did come to the European Championship relieved, but "not without ambition."
- Our ambition is to achieve better results from match to match. We didn't win a single point against Romania, but a new story awaits us. We will try to be better and win - said Vukčević.
Vukčević knows what task his team faces. And he doesn't look for alibis - neither in fatigue, nor in the missed draw at the start, nor in the strength of his rivals.
- It's a bitter feeling, but the boys are professionals and they need to recover psychologically. We also did everything to make sure they are physically ready for another 90 minutes.
Montenegro faces a different rival than Romania.
- The Danes are physically strong, defensively solid, technically very stable, they build their attack with a lot of patience. We will have to be aggressive, focused on making as few mistakes as possible, like the ones we made against Romania. That is normal, because football is a game of mistakes, and whoever makes fewer of them will have a better chance of getting results - the coach emphasized.
Montenegro played against Romania without three suspended players - midfielders Marko Perović, defender Aleksa Karadzic and attackers Marko Tadic - which will now be available.
- We will have more options. The first game tired the team, now we have a wider choice and I believe we will have freshness - said Vukčević.
Weakened by the absence of two leaders and best players, the Montenegrin team in Romania is not as competitive as it could be, with Vasilij Adzić i Andrija Bulatović, without a doubt it was. That's why it's most important that after every match there's no question that every player gave everything they had...
- We gave our all against Romania. It wasn't enough for a point or three, but we have nothing to be ashamed of. We are proud to be able to represent our country in such a big competition, we think we are doing it in the best way. Now we will try to take what we think we deserve, the first points in a big competition - said the captain Miloš Vračar.
The first defeat did not shake the team, their confidence did not wane.
- We are full of confidence ahead of the match with Denmark despite the defeat in the first match, because we are aware of the mistakes we made against Romania. We are thinking positively, we believe that we have a chance against both Denmark and Spain, we will do everything to ensure a favorable result. We are still in the game, there is no reason not to believe in ourselves - said Vračar and emphasized:
- The Danes are a tougher opponent than Romania, because they are physically dominant. But we have also seen some of their weaknesses, we will try to exploit them.
Savović: We turn the page - and we believe
The youngest player in the young team is Lazar Savović. He turned 17 in January, almost two years younger than his competition. Against Romania, he was the most aggressive Montenegrin player...
- It is an honor to be part of the Montenegrin national team at the European Championship. I am grateful to the coach for inviting me, I think I lived up to expectations against Romania, I really gave my all - says the Buducnost player.
How much of a mark did the painful defeat to Romania leave at the start? Will the talented Montenegrin football players have the strength to play another difficult and demanding match, against, as they say, a physically stronger and tactically more disciplined team?
- Denmark is a physically stronger team than Romania, they are tactically better, but we are also strong and I think we can play with anyone. We have certainly recovered physically - says Savović and emphasizes that the most important thing is that the team is psychologically ready.
- We have turned a new leaf, we don't want to look back. We came here to get a result, not to embarrass ourselves. I believe we can handle everyone, there is no big difference between the teams. We will have more players available for the second match, three suspended players are returning, which gives us even more reason to believe in a good result against Denmark.
Bonus video:
