From the special reporter "Vijesti"
Three years ago in Austria, Montenegrin handball players registered their first victory at the European championships, and last year they reached the main stage for the second time in history and won 11th place. Now they have moved the limit at the world championships as well, because they registered their first victory against Iran in the first stage (34:31), which practically won them entry to the main round.
However, the goal in Krakow is far from fulfilled. The "lions" still have a lot of work to do in one of the most beautiful European cities, and the first step is to stay there.
Against Chile tonight (18:24) they have an ideal chance to get a place among the XNUMX best teams on the planet, because they can allow themselves to lose by four goals.
However, no one has such calculations in mind. The team Zoran Roganović he wants to defeat the rival he defeated 10 years ago, in the fight for the 21st to 24th place at the World Championship in Spain (35:31).
By the way, in case of any victory, Chile would go to the main stage and transfer two points, and Montenegro would start from scratch in the confrontations with France, Slovenia and Poland. Therefore, a win or at least a draw is necessary to start Group I with two points.
"There is no relaxation, we have to prepare well for the Chileans and win. The triumph over Iran is historic, the first in the world championships, but it is the most difficult to play those games that are won in advance. We analyzed them well, prepared them and overcame them," he said Vuk Lazovic for "News".
"Lions" are also favorites against Chile, but there must be no relaxation.
"Those are the worst games. We should come together as a team, enter the match with our chemistry that adorns us and do the job. The Chileans are totally different from the Iranians, they don't have a shot from the outside, but they have quite a good connection with the pivotman. We have to pay attention there, to close it and maybe play a little shallower in defense. The most important thing is to win, everything else is less important".
Are you already thinking about potential rivals in the main stage?
"I would like us to finish the job against Chile first, then think about the rest. But it is normal to think about the second phase as well, because appetites have grown. We have raised the bar a bit, Chile should not be a problem for us. We have to enter focused, and then we will think about the rivals in the main phase", said Lazović.
Apart from the fact that in the event of a victory or a draw against the South Americans, they would carry over two points to the main stage, the "lions" also want to boost morale with a new celebration.
"We have to win both for points and for confidence, which we will need in the main stage. Very difficult matches await us", he stressed Marko Weasel.
The experienced Nikšić admits that Iran surprised them with their style of play.
"I didn't think it would be easy. Veselin Vujović arranged everything as it should, they are strong physically, and they surprised us, because they played much differently than against Chile. They gave their best against us, they fought until the very end and it was very difficult to beat them".
It won't be easy against Chile either. A team of Basque experts Aitor Ećaburu dropped the triumph against Iran in the 1st round, and tormented Spain for a long time, before laying down their weapons and losing 34:26.
"Against Spain, they held on until the 50th minute with a two-three difference, so it won't be easy. There are no easy opponents at the World Cup, we have to be as focused as possible. If we give 100 percent of the opportunity, the result will not be missing".
Even though they are playing with Chile, Roganović's chosen ones have already seen rivals in the main stage - Slovenia, France and most likely Poland.
"We have already begun to prepare for those opponents. We watched the match Poland - Slovenia, it will be very difficult. The Poles are the hosts, Slovenia is an exceptional team, and let's not talk about France. "Then and then, let's solve Chile in the right way and win, then we'll think about the next opponents", concluded Lasica.
Aleksandar Bakić has the "misfortune" of covering the same position as the maestral Miloš Vujović, but he also gets minutes, first of all in defense, because he plays brilliantly in the "double" position in the 6:0 zone and the forward in the 5:1 formation.
"The feeling after the first victory is phenomenal, we all played great together and corrected the mistakes from the first match. We showed that we have room for improvement, the defense has to be even more aggressive, and in the attack everything is working as it should. We scouted the Chileans, they are unpleasant. They are fighting, they play with their heart for their country, just like us. We are favorites again, we will do our best to justify it, but we have to be careful, because there are always surprises at the world championships", warned the 22-year-old from Andrijevica.
The left wing of Croatian Nekse also had a message for the fans.
"I hope we will record a few more victories and make Montenegro happy. Thanks to the fans who came in large numbers to support us, I hope it will be like that in the next matches as well".
Reporting made possible by Lob
Bonus video:
