Poorly managed, they gave everything they had - they didn't get the award, and the fans turned their backs on them when it mattered most.

For the seventh time in a row, Montenegro lost to the Czech Republic, but perhaps for the first time in those seven defeats, or maybe the second - let's remember the failure in the second leg of the famous play-off in 2011 - the impression remains that it deserved more.

Not only Stevan Jovetić, Stefan Savić, Nikola Krstović, but also all the others - tonight for the first time, teenagers Andrija Bulatović, Milan Roganović and Vasilije Adžić - were rewarded for the great fight, desire and enthusiasm they had, and even the chances they created.

The Czechs had them, of course, too, it ended 0:2, it could have been 0:3, but also more realistically - 1:1, 2:2. In an open battle, the guests were calmer, more composed, tactically and positionally more secure, physically stronger - all that we have seen so many times, and unfortunately experienced firsthand in clashes with the former Czechoslovakian school of football.

Montenegrin football players were not rewarded with a goal, a draw, and they deserved it - if for no other reason than because they experienced their own - most ardent - fans turning their backs on them after half an hour of play.

Whatever the reason for the mass abandonment of the northern stands and the boycott of fans (the lack of financial assistance from the Federation for organizing the trip to Zagreb is mentioned) - the football players suffered in a game that meant a lot to our team in terms of results.

Although there was tactical confusion, a real mess in the game of Robert Prosinečki's team, and I was told that some of the players played in unnatural positions (Krstović on the left - Vukotić on the right wing, among other things, they never played like that in their clubs), because of the energy they brought, deprived of support from the noisiest stands, they deserved to win at least a point.

Even a draw wouldn't change much in the World Cup race - Montenegro was, and remains, outside those trends - but a draw would at least increase enthusiasm and self-confidence for future actions. Not in these, but in the next qualifiers, probably with a new coach.

Prosinecki only remembered to bring in fresh blood in the fourth qualifying match - and he saw what kind of player Andrija Bulatovic was, not just a talent, but a well-formed player, and what kind of calmness Milan Roganovic demonstrated, and all this was known about Adzic even before.

However, everything takes time: if he had gone after the younger players three months ago in Plzen, when Montenegro fell practically without resistance to the same rival, perhaps he would have gained something more from tonight's match.

Therefore, there is hope that the award will arrive a little later - not so that Montenegro would remain in the fight for second place - it is unrealistic, and even now only theoretically possible, but so that the younger players would gain more experience and confidence before the next actions.

Only, the Czechs - already seen in the Prosinecki era - took the lead in the third minute, with a brilliant goal by Čern - after which everything became more difficult in the fight against a physically powerful and tactically perfectly disciplined team.

Montenegro, in the general confusion at the beginning, could have been losing 0:3, and could have tied, or even turned the tables by halftime, especially when Andrija Bulatović's "bomb" from 35 meters hit the crossbar. Stevan Jovetić also had a great chance.

In the following, a great fight by the Montenegrin team - Krstović burned until his last breath, falling, getting up, pulling our team into the attack, there were many attempts, situations, but also the chance of the match (Driton Camaj).

Only when our team launched a massive attack in the seven minutes of stoppage time, Prosinecki sent his entire attacking arsenal, Stefan Mugoša came on and almost equalized - did the Czechs have the opportunity to score. All of them were punished in the photo-finish by Černy.

Croatia directly to the World Cup, Czech Republic in the play-offs, Montenegro in the fight for third place - that's how it will remain this time, unfortunately...

MONTENEGRO - CZECH REPUBLIC 0:2 (0:1)

Podgorica - Stadium under Gorica. Attendance: 6.315. Referee: Marko Guida (Italy). Scorer: Čern in the 3rd and Čern in the 90+6th minute. Yellow cards: Janković, Vukotić, Bulatović (Montenegro).

Montenegro: Petkovic - M.Vukcevic (77. Mugosa), Savic, Vujacic, A.Vukcevic (58. Roganovic) - Jankovic (70. Adzic), Brnovic (58. Camaj), Bulatovic, Vukotic (70. Loncar) - Jovetic, Krstovic.

Czech Republic: Stanek - Dudera (49. Kranač), Holeš, Krejči, Zeleni - Souček, Červ (84. Sadilek) - Provod, Šulc (84. Kučta), Kušej (46. Černi) - Šik (71. Čori).