Had they not magically remained without a victory against Spain, Montenegrin handball players could have taken a crucial step towards the first semi-final at the world championships today.
However, the match against Japan is still very important for Jovanka Radičević and her friends, because if they beat the hosts today (10:7 a.m.), they will be one step away from the goal - XNUMXth place and the qualification tournament for the Olympic Games.
In the event of a victory, as well as Russia's triumph over Romania, the "Lionesses" would practically secure the 4th place in Group 2 and then fight for something more against "Zbornaja" on Tuesday and Sweden on Wednesday. Maybe the semi-finals...
- I am very satisfied that we had a large number of quality matches. We achieved the first goal, entered the main stage and I am happy about that, especially when I see which national teams were eliminated, that the superpower France is behind us. I can't be unhappy with two points, although regret remains for what we gambled away against Spain. But that match showed how much we can do - emphasized Majda Mehmedović.
The match with Spain and the loss of two points due to a 15-minute blackout in the attack (the rival turned from 19:23 to 26:23) will haunt Per Johansson and his team for a long time.
- We are trying to forget that defeat. I hope that every girl will manage to "set" her head, because we have a very important match ahead of us.
The Olympic qualifications have the effect of forgetting the defeat against Spain at least for a while, because the main goal is to be in Japan next summer as well.
- The most important thing is that we rise after the defeat and play the best we can, because everything depends on us. A very difficult opponent awaits us, we are not used to his style, which is different from the European one. It will be very difficult, I sincerely hope that the pressure will not disturb us and that we will give our maximum in every game, as we have done so far - said Mehmedović.
And Andrea Klikovac admits that it is difficult to erase the duel with the "women warriors" from their minds.
- Spain's defeat was hard for me because we were leading and under control for most of the game, but we lost. What is there is, let's move on, we are preparing for the match with Japan - pointed out the right back of ĆSM Bucharest.
The recipe for victory is simple.
- If we play hard and tight in defense, there will be half-counters and counters - the 28-year-old right back points out. Although there is still hope for the semi-finals, the "lioness" is only thinking about the match with Japan and the chance to qualify for the OI.
- The most important thing for us is to win over Japan and achieve the goal for which we came. Later, we will think about some bigger results - concluded Klikovac.
Not to repeat Oldenburg
That Montenegro will not have an easy task is shown by the result from the World Cup in Germany two years ago, when Japan shocked the "lionesses" and triumphed 29:28.
- We don't like such teams, like for example Russia, with whom we have a better result. I can't say that we are afraid, but because of that defeat in Germany, we have great respect for Japan - Mehmedović is clear. This will be the fourth duel for Montenegro and the team led by Dane Ulrik Kirkeli since 2017. The first two were won by the "lionesses" - in Lyon, at the qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in London in 2012 (30:24), and at the World Championship in Denmark in 2015 (29:23), and on December 5, 2017 in Oldenburg was one of the biggest victories in the history of Japanese handball.
- We have already played against Japan several times, we know that they are a difficult team. They play handball that doesn't really suit us, but we are ready and will respond in the right way - Klikovac promised.
Bonus video:
