Exactly 360 days ago, on December 8, 2020, in Herning, Denmark, Montenegro and Slovenia had a decisive battle for placement in the main stage of the European Championship. Both selections were pushed against the wall after initial defeats against France and Denmark, and the "lionesses" deserved a point due to the better goal difference.
There was no dilemma, Jovanka Radičević and her friends dominated, several times they had plus eight, so it didn't cost them too much to relax in the finish, because in the end it was 26:25. Handball players from two ex-YU republics will play a match tonight (20.30), already at the start of the World Championship in Spain, where the stake is also the second phase.
In these 12 months, a lot has changed in both selections. Kim Rasmusen and Uroš Bregar have left, the two rivals are now on the bench with longtime associates in various roles in the ranks of Budućnosti and Montenegro - Bojana Popović and Dragan Adžić. There were changes in the squads as well, because Montenegro was significantly weakened, without even six handball players who played that showdown in Herning.
- The first match at a major competition is always very important and the pressure is the greatest. Two points at the start opens the door, but we should be relieved and do what we agreed. We should build the game and grow as a team, that's why we came, we just have to overcome the initial pressure and get the championship going in a good rhythm - Popović points out.
Montenegro spent the preparations for the planetary championship in Sweden and only yesterday, after a tiring journey via Amsterdam, reached Barcelona. He will stay there, and he will play matches in nearby Granollers. Against the Swedes, she showed two faces in the preparatory duels - in the first she was desperate and lost 38:24, in the second she put up much stronger resistance and was defeated 31:26.
- Against Sweden, we played together, looked for the line-up and rotation that is possible with this line-up. The double match against Sweden gave us guidelines, but the duel against Slovenia will be something special.
The head coach of Montenegro appreciates the Slovenian women, but she also knows their flaws.
- It is an experienced team, with four or five girls who play leading roles in the Champions League in their clubs. The attackers are a very high-quality team and it will not be easy to defend the shots of Stanko and Gros, along with two excellent middle backs Omoregi and Zulić. They have weak points in defense that we have analyzed and we will try to exploit them. The attack must be disciplined, and in the defense we must stop the shooting potential that the opponent possesses.
Dragan Adžić has emphasized many times how much it meant to him that Budućnost returned Bojana Popović, that she taught other players many things. Together they won two Champions Leagues (Popović's one as the first star of the team, the other as sports director), Olympic silver, and for five years they were the head of the professional staff and the first assistant in the biggest Montenegrin club.
- There can be no surprises between me and Adj, we spent many years together and know each other very well. Everyone will manage the game in their own way, and the girls have to do the work on the field. Goalkeepers often play a crucial role in such matches. There is no special duel between the two coaches, the game is like any other, everyone should be relaxed, and let whoever is better win - concluded Popović.
Itana Grbić: We have to be patient in attack
In the absence of Đurđina Jauković and Jelena Despotović, as well as Milena Raičević, the biggest burden in the organization of the attack will fall on Itana Grbić and Matea Pletikosić. Grbić can't wait for the first match.
- There has been a special energy in the team since arriving in Barcelona. It's a special feeling and it's finally starting what we've been preparing for for a long time. Before us is an ever more difficult task, a great challenge for all of us, but of course we are ready. I'm excited and can't wait to see how it all turns out. I hope we can get two points already at the start, although it will be perhaps the most difficult so far - said the center back of Ferencvaros.
The first star of Slovenia is Ana Gros, the great right back of CSKA, and there are also Tjaša Stanko from Crimea, Elizabet Omoregi from ĆSM Bucharest... All of them are defenders, and the weak points are wings, goalkeepers and center players.
- Slovenia has exceptional shooters. Omoregi, Stanko and Gros are well known to me, they are the main players, but I believe in the defense, which has always been our main asset. We have to be patient in the attack and go safely towards the goal, we practiced that, we will respect everything that coach Popović asks of us and I believe that this can lead us to our first victory - stressed the 25-year-old Podgorica woman.
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