From the previous selector Zoran Roganović, Vlado Shola was practically guaranteed placement at the European Championship in Germany.
In the first two rounds, Montenegrin handball players won convincing victories over Kosovo in Podgorica (29:20) and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo (36:25), and now against those two teams they should only confirm their seventh participation in the continental championships.
Since two selections from eight groups are going to the championship, as well as the four best third-placed teams, it is clear that Maltena's work is done. The legendary Croatian goalkeeper, however, does not want his chosen ones to fall asleep.
"First you should jump, then say hop. Before us is Kosovo, and then Bosnia. We should not run away from the role of favorites, we are that in both games, but we have to go into each training session and both games very responsibly," said Šola at tonight's training session.
The "Lions" could finish everything in three days in the hall that used to be called "Boro i Ramiz" (now the Palace of Youth and Sports), and they enter the match with Kosovo as absolute favorites.
"Everybody knows how to play handball today, but it's just a matter of when better quality and weaker teams meet, what kind of approach will the better team play with." I think that we are slightly better than Kosovo, if the approach is maximal and responsible, we should win. I believe it will be so".
Šol doesn't care what the coach of Slovenia is Uroš Zorman practically invited the B team, which BiH could use and even take the 2nd place in group 7 with a possible victory.
"I don't have a loose guard to see what the opponents are doing and who they are playing. The focus is on us, serious teams only deal with themselves. I want us to become a serious team and I'm only interested in how we will play. We are interested in four points from these two games and that's it".
The Croatian expert made his debut in March, with two defeats against the "country" (32:29 and 37:30), but now he knows the team better.
"Even now we won't have enough time. We watched the footage a few days ago, had a meeting via Zoom, prepared actions, and all the players will receive on paper the starts that we will play in these two games. We will change the way we defend compared to the double match with Slovenia, because these two teams play differently than they do. I think that we have a lot of individual quality, but all that should be connected to the collective. If we succeed, this national team should not be afraid of anyone".
An hour before the first practice, the EHF received information that the handball court had been suspended Miloš Vujović because of the red card and unsportsmanlike behavior in the match with Slovenia in Morača.
Instead of the best left wing of the previous EHF Euro, he was invited Filip Vujović, and it was previously on the list Aleksandar Bakić.
"It is a matter of the EHF. There is nothing we can do and there should be no drama. I spoke with Miloš, he will be ready for the match with Bosnia, but we also have Bakić and little Filip. Miloš is a very important player for us, a world class player, but we have to push on," Šola said calmly.
The 22-year-old from Mojkov is on the list for the first time Haris Suljević, who this season defends well for Izviđač from Ljubuški and is one of the most deserving players for winning the ninth title in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"I followed him, he defends very well in Scout. We brought him to see him, it's not the same to defend in the club and the national team. We'll see how it stacks up. We try to expand the staff at every action, to see new, younger players and to look to the future. These two games are our priority, but I, as a coach, have to look at the players who are coming," concluded Šola.
In defense, a lot will depend on Vuk Lazović, who will also be the first option in the attack in the position of pivot, because due to a shoulder injury at the World Cup in Poland, there is still no undisputed Nemanja Grbović.
"The match in Kosovo will be difficult. We played in Pristina once before, but it was during the corona, there were no fans. Now I expect a hotter atmosphere, the rival will certainly have support, it will be a real men's match".
Both Lazović and the coach are only interested in two victories.
"Kosovo is an inconvenient opponent, it must be taken as seriously as possible. No charges due to the importance of the match, we want to show our game. We want to win against BiH as well, there is no room for any relaxation and calculations. We play in front of our audience, the triumph must not be in question," said the 35-year-old from Belgrade.
Bonus video:
