Waiting for negative tests

The coronavirus is raging again, stronger than ever before, and the micron strain has completely disrupted sports calendars. The "peak" in all European countries arrived at the end of last year and at the beginning of this year, and thus it affected the big problems of all the participants of the continental championship in handball.

Every day, information arrives from all over the Old Continent about infected players, and today begins the series of mandatory PCR tests prescribed by the EHF for the participants of the championships in Hungary and Slovakia. Among them are the "lions", and only after testing Zoran Roganović will know who he can count on for the tournament in Switzerland, but also for the EHF Euro.

Several members of the Montenegrin national team were infected with covid-19 about 10 days ago and will be on the passenger list if they test negative now. But, there is always the fear that someone will not get infected until January 13 and the first match in Debrecen against the two-time consecutive world champions, Denmark.

Before that match, Vasko Ševaljević and his teammates will have a tournament in Winterthur, Switzerland, where the rivals from January 7 to 9 will be Portugal, Ukraine and the home team.

"Unfortunately, during the preparations for the European Championship, some other things are in the foreground. It is important to stay healthy and protect yourself from this virus, we will see what happens in the tests. We are taking the utmost care and for now we are working according to plan", says Miloš Božović.

One of Montenegro's trump cards will be the player who recently had a perfect rating of 100 in the Bundesliga, Stefan Čavor.

"The most important thing is to stay healthy, to avoid the corona virus, so that we can travel to the championship as a whole. We are all motivated, we want to present ourselves in the best possible light. We have a lot of time to prepare, the matches in Switzerland will be an excellent prelude to the European Championship", said the 27-year-old from Budva.

His compatriot and peer hopes that the "lions" can pass group A, although they will fight for two places in the main stage in Budapest with Denmark, North Macedonia and Slovenia.

"Last time we aimed to win, but now in my head I'm setting the bar a little higher. I hope for the second phase, maybe some further surprises", Božović is an optimist.

Čavor is more realistic, but hopes for a sensation.

"It is difficult to talk about the main round, because we are in a very difficult group. If we play as we know how, as we have shown many times at home, once against Denmark, I think we can expect passage to the next stage", stressed the right back of the German team Weclar.

Božović: Denmark is running a marathon, maybe the first match is our chance

According to bookmakers, Montenegro is the outsider of group A. On the list of favorites to win the gold, Denmark is first with odds of 2,50, Slovenia is ninth (31), North Macedonia shares 15th place with 251, and the "lions" are 17th with even odds 751.

Considering that only two selections pass, and that the world champion is extremely strong, it is clear that the duels with former compatriots will be the most important, especially with the Slovenians at the end of the group.

"It doesn't necessarily mean that the match with Slovenia will be crucial. Denmark is running a marathon, not going for a sprint, but watching the end of the championship and will not enter the first games for life and death. "Perhaps that first match will be the key to passing, because if Slovenia falters earlier, they will be shaken before the match with us," Božović points out.

The defensive line of Montenegro has been slightly refreshed, as Vasilije Kaluđerović and Božidar Simić are on the list.

"Those guys deserve to be there. They caught the coach's eye, they did an excellent job in the first part of the preparations and stood out during it. That is why they are among us now. I hope that they, as well as the younger ones who join, will contribute".

Zoran Roganović announced a new style of play, Božović believes that the team is adapting to it solidly.

"It looks pretty good, the dress rehearsal will be in Switzerland. It looked good in Tunisia too, according to the health bulletin. Those ideas are currently yielding results".