School: Borozan world class

Three days after Montenegrin handball players finished their extremely successful performance at the World Championship, the "lions" will gather. Selector Vlado Shola today he will make a roll call before the start of preparations for the EHF Euro in Germany, which starts on January 10.

The Croatian expert should have 10 of the 21 players from the list - goalkeepers - available at the first training session in the hall of the "Voco" hotel. Filip Borozan, wings Aleksandar Bakić, Mirko Radović i Luka Radović, pivots Nemanja Grbović i Miodrag Ćorsović, those backs Bož Anđelić, Stevan Vujović, Vasilija Kaluđerović and returnees Vuka Borozan.

Once one of the best defenders in the world is back in the national team after six and a half years.

- I don't know why Vuka wasn't there before, nor am I particularly interested, because that time has passed. I was neither there, nor was I informed. He played in the Lovcen European League and showed that he is excellent, that he could help us. There were no problems with him, I called him and he agreed to come. He has quality and it is only a matter of form how much he will bring it back, because he is a world-class defender and can help us a lot both defensively and offensively - Šola told "Vijesti".

After completing the club duties, the remaining 11 players who are applying for a place in the squad for the European Championship will join their teammates in the national team by the end of the year. The good thing is that this year the first part of the Bundesliga ends earlier than usual, so they will be free from this weekend Nebojsa Simic, Branko Vujović, Miloš Vujović i Stefan Čavor, including Miloš Božović from the French Ivri. The goalkeeper of Swedish Am will arrive last, Nikola Matovic, because he is playing a game on December 29. So, there will be more time for the legendary Croatian goalkeeper to impose the style of play he wants, because there were not enough days for that at the previous gatherings.

- The most important thing is that the players leave their mark and that we all win together. We showed that we want to play faster handball, with a lot of transition, running, and we didn't play the new defense too much in the friendly match against Romania, because there wasn't enough time to get used to it. Every coach has his own vision, style and assessment of what he should play. My associate and I decided to play faster, to go in that direction and I see that the players accept it. They have no reluctance towards it, I hope we will have enough time to put everything into practice - emphasized Šola.

On December 29, Montenegro will play North Macedonia in Stara Pazova, while on January 4 and 5 it is planned to participate in the tournament in Poreč, where the rivals will host Croatia and Slovenia. The "lions" will play their premier match in group C in Munich on January 12 against Hungary, two days later they will face Iceland, and on January 16 Serbia. Placement in the main round will be won by the two first-placed selections, the "lions" hope that they can win it and repeat the success of two years ago.

- It is very ungrateful to talk about it, but the goal is very clearly set - we are interested in the first match with Hungary, we are focused on it, and then on everything else. Of course, we are thinking of getting past the group, that is a goal, but the focus is completely focused on carrying out the preparations as they should, so on Hungary. The competition system is ungrateful, because a lot depends on the first match and it is important to think only about the match that is in front of you, and not about the others - concluded Šola.

We have to protect ourselves from the flu

Božo Anđelić will be in the national team for the first time after the April qualifications, who was not present at the previous gathering, because he did not have a club. In the meantime, he signed for the Hungarian PLER and is playing excellently.

- Every player on the list has certain qualities and status in the national team, but someone will have to drop from the list of 21 names, because we will be leading 16 players and two substitutes. I'm glad that Božo is playing and that he's playing well, and during the preparations we'll see who's in what shape and whether he'll learn enough about what we're going to do. That will decide who will be among the 16. It's a good thing that all the players are in a competitive rhythm and healthy - emphasized Šola.

The Croatian expert hopes that the national team members will avoid injuries and the flu during the preparations.

- We have to know how to guard against it, it shows seriousness. If someone gets sick, the question is whether we will achieve the desired result. Such little things can cost us.