After more than five months, Montenegrin handball players finally got together.
During the EHF week, Bojana Popović will have one of the rare opportunities to play tactical ideas before the European Championship, where the "lionesses" will play the first phase, from November 5 to 9, in Podgorica against Spain, Germany and Poland.
These seven days will be a warm-up for the "real" preparations, which begin on October 24.
"I'm glad to have the opportunity to assemble the team a little more than a month before the start of the European Championship. It is ideal to see who is where during these seven days. The leagues have started, each girl comes from her clubs in a certain shape. We will work mainly in 'Morača', maybe we will play two matches with men, through that we will see what we can plan for November". Popović pointed out.
Compared to the World Cup in Spain last December, Montenegro will be significantly stronger, especially in the defensive line. This spring, Milena Raičević returned to the national team after a long break, and now Nikšić bomber Đurđina Jauković, who scored 12 goals in Brest's victory over Ferencvaros, earned the award for MVP of the 3rd round of the Champions League.
"Everyone has seen through the last year and a half, when we were not in the full squad, how much the players from the middle of the defense have failed. Džina is dominant there, but also attacking as a top back-shooter. It is foolish to waste words on her importance, I am very glad that she raised the level of play in Brest through the French Championship and the Champions League. He feels great, the injury did not have any consequences. It's only important that all the girls stay healthy through the next games, which they play until the European Championship, and then everything will be much easier for work and some further story", said the coach.
Apart from the form of Đurđina Jauković, the coach is also pleased with the form of the other players.
"Mostly they all play in their clubs, they have notable roles, which is very important. These nine girls from Budućnost play constantly, several of them are in Brest, Jovanka is in Crimea and, of course, plays there, Ema gets her minutes in Bucharest. Marta defends, as well as Marina in Siofok, the most important thing is that they all play".
Popović, who is also the head of the professional staff of Budućnost, did not invite the "blue" players Nikolina Vukčević and Katarina Džaferović for this action, but they will be in competition for the EHF Euro. Due to serious knee injuries, Dijana Mugoša and Anastasija Babović are missing, and Jelena Despotović gave birth a month ago.
"We will see through this training week who is at what level and how much they can give at the European Championship. There are not many of us, the main 20 are mostly there".
The toughest rival in Podgorica should be Spain, for which tactics are already being prepared. Compared to the previous gatherings, there are new faces in the coaching staff - goalkeeping coach Novak Ristović was replaced by former national team player Mirjana Milenković, who will be assisted in her work by Buducnost Bemax net keeper Armel Atingre.
"We are dealing with Spain, this week we will focus specifically on it. It is our first game, and it is known that the Spanish women are difficult. They played the last qualifying cycle in a slightly changed composition, they will now play the Carpathian Trophy, we will have all the materials and enough time to prepare for the first match. We will, of course, deal with Germany and Poland, but Spain is the first and requires us to deal with it the most", concluded Bojana Popović.
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