From the special reporter "Vijesti"
If this is a dream, don't wake us, because it seems too good to be true - Montenegrin handball players continued with unreal releases and at the start of the main stage of the 15th European Championship, they routinely defeated the giants of this sport, Croatia (32:26).
"Lions", who are among the 12 best teams in Europe for only the second time, were so dominant, dominant, self-confident, fluttering, lucid..., that one would think that they have 14 medals from major competitions, and not "cowboys".
The defense, masterfully commanded by Nebojša Simić, was outstanding, and the attack so diverse, that Hrvoj Horvat's chosen ones did not know who or what they should defend, because the goals came from all sides, from various actions...
The Croats took the lead with a goal by Ivan Čupić, and probably no one at the time could have even thought that it would be their only lead.
Božo Anđelić and Radojica Čepić, after almost identical actions - running to the line from the back positions - reversed the score to 2:1, to start the series at 3:3.
And that in an unusual way - Miloš Vujović moved twice from the wing to the guard and made shots from eight meters to make it 5:3, so that captain Vasko Ševaljević increased it to 6:3.
For the first time in this championship, Simić also had a great 1st half (against the Macedonians and Slovenians, he worked wonders in the sequel) and did not allow the "cowboys" to get closer than two points.
With his fifth goal, and a perfect "popcorn", Miloš Vujović brought plus four for the first time and forced Horvat to take his second time-out. It didn't help - Simić put the ramp again, and the "lions" with a double "zeppelin", which after Vujović's passes in flight, was realized by the second winger, Marko Lasica, made the neutral observers stand up and greet one of the most beautiful moves of the championship with a standing ovation.
It didn't end there either, because Vujović stole the ball in the last seven-on-six attack of the rivals and hit an empty net from 30 meters for a huge six difference at halftime (15:9).
The Croats, who were "mown down" by the coronavirus in the previous days, like recently Roganović and his chosen ones, had nothing left to lose, so they started the 2nd half with a player more in attack, without a goalkeeper. Čupić and Veron Načinović reduced the score to 15:11, Mirko Alilović saved two shots, which is why the "lions" coach immediately took a minute's rest, and his players quickly returned to plus six and routinely maintained it.
The rival came close for the last time in the middle of the half, when they used two more players and reduced the score to 22:18, but Branko Vujović made a great shot from more than nine meters, Simić saved David Mandić's zicer, and Nemanja Grbović returned plus six (24:18). , so Horvat "shot" the last 60 seconds for the deal.
After another bomb from the unstoppable Vujović, the "choice" changed the goalkeeper, returned Ivan Pešić, who stopped the shot of the right guard Kjelce from a difficult position, but the ball was grabbed by Grbović and increased to 27:20. Simić "matched" Načinović one on one, and then Stefan Čavor, who returned to the team after suffering from the coronavirus, brought a huge plus eight with eight minutes to go (28:20).
Everything was settled, but the great Baranin wanted to show the world what kind of master he is, because he saved the famous Luka Cindrić's second zicer and caused sighs of amazement in the hall. Then he could comfortably give way to Nikola Matović...
With this victory, Montenegro tied with Iceland in the 3rd place of Group 1, and probably the duel with the "fishermen" will decide who will fight for the 5th position and possible direct qualification to the World Championship in Sweden and Poland.
There is also a theoretical chance that Roganović's boys will reach the semi-finals, but on the way they would have to skip the Olympic champion France. It seems impossible, but who can write them off?
MONTENEGRO - CROATIA 32:26 (15:9)
Budapest - "MVM home". Viewers: 5.037. Referees: Jorum and Kleven (Norway). Sevens: Montenegro 1 (1), Croatia 4 (4). Exclusions: Montenegro 12, Croatia 6 minutes.
Montenegro: Matović (one save), N. SIMIĆ (14 saves), F. Vujović, Čavor 4, LAZOVIĆ, ČEPIĆ 1, B. VUJOVIĆ 7, M. VUJOVIĆ 7 (1), Kaluđerović 1, Simović, Ševaljević 4, B. Simić, LASICA 2, Vujačić, ANĐELIĆ 1, Grbović 5.
Croatia: PEŠIĆ (seven saves), Alilović (three saves), Marić 1, Gadža 2, Gojun, Načinović 2, Ivić, Čupić 7 (4), SLIŠKOVIĆ, CINDRIĆ 5, Mandić 1, LUČIN 2, MARTINOVIĆ 1, ŠIPIĆ 3, Glavaš, Jelinić 2.
Bonus video:
