Simić: If we surrendered at the first step, we would not be Montenegrins

"In the 1st half, there was a defensive collapse, we were nowhere. At the tournament in Croatia, we played with heart and sacrifice, and now it wasn't even 10 percent of that. People were walking, passing through the center and kicking. I didn't want to scream, to make a scene, I was waiting for the players to come to their senses", said Nebojša Simić after the defeat against Hungary (26:24).

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Photo: Reuters/Angelika Warmuth

Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

12.01.2024. 22:56h

Nebojša Simić also fulfilled his quota against Hungary, saving 11 shots, even though he was too often caught in the crossfire.

The great goalkeeper admitted that the defense of Montenegro in the first 30 minutes shocked him.

"In the 1st half, there was a defensive collapse, we were nowhere. At the tournament in Croatia, we played with heart and sacrifice, and now it wasn't even 10 percent of that. People were walking, passing through the center and kicking. I didn't want to scream, to make a scene, I was waiting for the players to come to their senses. And they came, in the 2nd half it was our defense, we did it manfully".

Unfortunately, there were many mistakes in the attack in the decisive moments.

"As bad as we played defense in the 1st half, so was our attack in the second, especially in the last 13-14 minutes, when we scored two or three goals. That's not how you can win a game like this. We deserved a draw, but I think we dropped a win."

The next match is in two days against Iceland, which took a point against Serbia tonight (27:27).

"Serbia played incredible defense, they only conceded goals from penalties and counterattacks, they didn't score from positional attacks until the end. We have a rotation, I am delighted with the release of Dragašević, who reminded me of Čepić against Slovenia at the European Championship. He showed all the time that he can, today he got a chance and it's incredible how he used it. I take my hat off to him. We'll have a beer tonight and wake up in the morning. We have Iceland and Serbia, we are going to "disrupt" them and go to the second round. If we surrendered at the first step, we would not be Montenegrins", concluded Simić.