How far Montenegro was from chances, goals and the opportunity to at least threaten Croatia at "Maksimir" is perhaps best illustrated by the words of captain Stevan Jovetić.
"We wanted to try from a counterattack, but it was difficult because we defended deep in our own half - our goal was really, really far away," Jovetić told RTCG.
Montenegrin football players were defeated by Croatia (4:0) in the 5th round of World Cup qualifiers, in one of the worst matches they have played in history.
"It's hard, I have the feeling that only negative things have been happening lately," Jovetić added.
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Montenegro was harmless from the first minute, and everything became more difficult from the 42nd minute when Andrija Bulatović was sent off.
"We were in the game until the red card, they did keep the ball, because of course we didn't expect to be able to do that against a Croatian team. There were no dangerous attacks, I don't think Danijel Petković had any intervention in the first 30 minutes. It wasn't easy, but we gave it our all, there are a lot of new guys, I'm happy for them and I think they are the future of Montenegrin football."
The captain also commented on the expulsion of young Bulatović.
"I'm sorry it turned out like this - a 4-0 defeat. I don't think the referee had to show a second yellow card, then I think it would have been different."
He also tried, as captain, to talk to Felix Zweiger after the first half.
"I talked, but the referees always have their way and no matter who we play with, we are in a subordinate position. Of course, it's not the referee's fault, Croatia is better, it deserved it and nothing is in dispute, but why are you helping them?"
When asked if everything could get better from the next cycle and the League of Nations, when the "falcons" will have a chance to qualify for the European Championship through League C, the captain did not seem too optimistic.
"We'll see, I don't know...", concluded Jovetić.
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