Seven years ago, Montenegrin handball players planned to stay in Helsingborg, but everything backfired - the then coach's team Dragan Adžić was defeated 21:14 by Hungary in the last match of group C (the future leader of the "lionesses" was sitting on its bench at that time Kim Rasmussen), so as the worst in the round of three selections with a win and two losses (along with the Czech Republic), it ended its performance at the EHF Euro already in the preliminary group C in Malmö.
Yesterday, Helsingborg finally became the home of the "reds" and they will have it until Tuesday, and a miracle of miracles should happen if they do not go to Gothenburg with at least two points, to fight for a place in the quarter-finals of the 26th World Cup.
The first rival tomorrow (18 p.m.) is Cameroon, on Saturday at the same time there is a duel with Paraguay, and on Monday from 20.30:XNUMX p.m. Bojana Popović a crucial battle awaits for the 1st place in group B with Hungary.
The ultimate goal of the "lionesses" is to reach the quarter-finals and play for the fourth time in major competitions in the temple of Danish handball, "Jiske bank boxen" in Herning.
The mitigating circumstance is that by winning the bronze at the European Championship, they are almost certain to qualify for the Olympic Games (they could be without them only if there is no European selection in the final, and the vice-champion of the Old Continent, Denmark, is not among the top nine), so they can play without any imperative.
"Of course, it's a relief that we've already qualified for the Olympics. At the World Championship in Japan 2019, we fought for it and none of us were happier when we won 5th place. Now we are much calmer, because we have a young team and we will use this competition to get along, to grow from game to game", said the most experienced member of the Montenegrin national team. Marta Batinović.
Cameroon played in the finals of the last two African championships, but lost both by 10 points to Angola. Montenegro is the absolute favorite, but there must be no relaxation.
"Cameroon is a classic representative of African handball, and we felt that school at the tournament in Croatia against Congo. A lot of players are in France and they know how to play, it's not a team that came from the street. We are taking this match very seriously. According to the videos we watched, it seems to me that Cameroon is a slightly better team than Congo, because they have two excellent shooters, and the right back plays in the First French League and shoots from 10-12 meters", warns the 33-year-old goalkeeper.
When you look at the situation realistically, it is clear that the "lionesses" will fight for a place in the quarter-finals with three European selections - Hungary, Sweden and Croatia, with whom they will meet in the main stage.
"We have to understand that none of the non-European teams are harmless, anything can be expected in duels with them. It is necessary that we play like against anyone else, those teams know how to go head-first through the wall if necessary. It is realistic that the European selections will fight for two places in the quarter-finals, but no one should underestimate themselves, because sport is unpredictable and anything is possible if someone has a good day".
Somewhat unusually, Montenegro played its last preparatory match for the World Cup against Croatia, which it will face in the main stage. Popović and Ivica Obrvan were hiding some "cards", and the home team celebrated 26:25.
"Regardless of the fact that we were defeated, we had solid moments and it's good that we got a taste of Croatia before the match. I think that, when it really means something to us, we will play better than in Novigrad. In that game, we combined a lot, tried zones 6:0 and 5: but we didn't want to go "head on" and show everything we were preparing. But we have a lot of work to do before that match. Now we are focused only on the first game, everything else will come. And before Croatia, Hungary is waiting for us, which by winning the friendly match with the Netherlands showed that it is on the right track", concluded Batinović.
There is healthy competition between Marina and me
Compared to the European Championship in Slovenia, North Macedonia and Montenegro, where they surprisingly won bronze, the "lionesses" are significantly weakened because there are no three players from the starting line-up - Jovanka Radičević, Đurđina Jauković and Milena Raičević, as well as the first substitute Ema Alivodić .
"All of them were very important to us, these are the girls who were the leaders of the team and they failed us. But that's how it goes in sports, it's normal. We are not the only national team that went to a big competition with young players, I remember when Denmark completely rejuvenated the team. Now the younger ones have come, as they will come after us. The most important thing is that we go step by step, and it is important that we have already qualified for the Olympic Games. We will use this World Cup to connect as much as possible as a team and to be the best when the right time comes," emphasized Marta Batinović.
It is an interesting situation that she and the new captain of Montenegro, Marina Rajčić, are a goalkeeping pair both in the national team and in Romanian Magura from Ćisnadije.
"Marija and I pull each other, we fit well. There is absolutely no problem on that side, there is a very healthy atmosphere and real competition between us. After all, we have been roommates for a long time and understand each other very well."
SCHEDULE OF GROUP B
TOMORROW
Montenegro - Cameroon 18.00
Hungary - Paraguay 20.30
SATURDAY
Paraguay - Montenegro 18.00
Hungary - Cameroon 20.30
MONDAY
Cameroon - Paraguay 18.00
Montenegro - Hungary 20.30
Bonus video:
