The young Montenegrin national football team is starting the European Championship qualifiers, and the first match is the toughest possible.
Goran Perišić's team will face Italy in Spezia (18.15:5 p.m.), one of the favorites in Group XNUMX, which also includes Sweden, Poland, North Macedonia and Armenia.
Montenegro is at a new beginning, with a large number of players on the roster who were members of the youth team not so long ago and who are eager to prove themselves.
- We are all looking forward to the qualifiers, we have been preparing for them for nine months. We had two gatherings, in March and June, where we played three games, beat Bosnia and Herzegovina, and drew with Turkey and Azerbaijan - said Perišić.
Now comes the real thing.
- We are facing a tough group, and we were really unlucky during the draw. It's not an alibi, but Sweden, Italy and Poland are the favorites in this group. I'm happy with the atmosphere and working with the guys, and they also wanted to work and train with the national team - added Perišić.
The Italians have a new coach, Silvio Baldini took over in July, with Andrea Barzagli as his assistant. The “Azurini” enter the qualifiers weakened, as Francesco Pio Esposito from Inter and Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni are with the senior team, while Francesco Camarda is injured.
The most famous Italian names are defender Luca Marianuzzi from Napoli, and midfielders - Romin Nicolo Pizzilli and Cher Enduro from Fiorentina.
- I wouldn't waste too many words on Italy. They are a good team, individually very good. We want to play well, achieve the best possible result and open the qualifiers in the way we want - said Perišić, who can count on Andrej Kostić, Viktor Đukanović, Marko Perović, Vladimir Perišić...
- I don't have a defensive block. We'll come out on top, but I won't reveal all the cards. What is certain is that we'll play offensively, we have killer strikers who are scoring goals in clubs this year. That gives me confidence to try to do something more. I repeat, they are the favorites, but the field is the only measure of everything. I don't want to burden the players, I just ask them to give their maximum - concluded Perišić.
Montenegro plays Sweden in the 2nd round, on Tuesday in Gorica.
Bonus video:
