I will remember the farewell in Morača, it would have been even more emotional in Ljubljana

From the special reporter "Vijesti"

Not only Montenegro paid homage to Jovanka Radičević on November 9, the whole of Europe is doing the same. Along with Anita Gorbic, the only player in the history of handball who has a four-digit number of goals both in the national team and in the Champions League, all these days of the European Championship she cannot "defend" herself from the media from all over the Old Continent.

Before the match with France, she spoke for a long time to the Macedonian media, then to the EHF, which is preparing a documentary film about her, and then to "Vijesti". And he admits that the scenes from "Morača" do not fade and will not soon, because the farewell was memorable.

"Emotions don't go away, I don't think they will soon. Everything I experienced rings in my ears, I don't know if anyone has experienced it. My entire career stopped on that November 9th, everything came back in the best possible way for all these years that I gave to handball and how dedicated I was. I experienced the whole hall chanting my name, I will remember that for the rest of my life. Those are the most beautiful moments in my career. I knew they loved and respected me, but I received confirmation on Wednesday," says the popular Joka.

The monologue doesn't stop there...

"Both before and after that night, I have countless messages, I didn't even have time to reply to everyone thanking them for everything I did for the national team. Thank you to everyone who was in the hall and to those who weren't for all these years of support and love... We celebrated and rejoiced together. The national team is everything to me, I experienced the most beautiful moments and emotions in it, for every normal person and athlete there is nothing more beautiful than when he defends the colors of his country".

The legendary right wing said goodbye to the home crowd in a spectacular way, with 12 goals against Poland, but she could have an even nicer farewell on November 20 in Ljubljana, when she could win her third medal in a jersey with the national emblem.

"That's the goal, it would certainly be an even more emotional and better farewell. We are all striving towards that, many things have coincided. We already have the first match ball for the semi-finals against France. Regardless of the three victories, I think that Montenegro has not yet shown the game it can play in both segments. I believe that now is the right moment to show it".

In tonight's showdown with France (20.30:XNUMX p.m.), a better game in attack is needed, because now there won't be thousands of fans to push the team when it's not going well.

"We played top-notch defense, especially in the first game against Spain, but we should not forget that the fans carried us to three victories. All the opponents in 'Morača' were executed because of the atmosphere. After the games, I talked to the players and coaches, they told me that they had never experienced this anywhere. I think there is room for us to play much better. It's a different experience when the game is over and when we look at the analysis, and I believe that we will already show against France that we can do even better", the captain is clear.

In front of the "lionesses" are opponents who have won seven medals in the last eight major competitions.

"God gave them great physical predispositions, but I think we can play with them. At the last world championship, when we were without Đina Jauković and Milena, we were able to cope with them until the 45th minute. I don't consider them aliens, they have two arms and two legs like us. It won't be easy for us, but it won't be easy for them either. I know they don't like to play with us, they say that we are a team that plays strong defense and 'fights'.

The captain believes that the team can go very far.

"This generation is mature, the atmosphere is excellent, we are like a family. Everything is possible in today's handball, and we, along with France and Norway, are the only teams that have transferred four points to the main stage, right? They should also think about us, it will certainly not be easy for them".

Radičević has always emphasized her love for Skopje and Macedonia and she believes that the people who cheered her on for five years while she played for Vardar will be in the stands tonight.

"For me, Macedonia is special, it is in my heart, this is my second home. I spent five beautiful years here, every time I come, memories come alive. I have many friends with whom I stayed in touch after leaving, and I also believe that the Macedonians will come to support us. I heard in interviews for the Macedonian media that everyone said they would support Montenegro", concluded the 36-year-old right winger.