With eyes on Hungary, Austria and Switzerland, and thoughts on Ulm - Montenegrin handball players continue their qualification for the European Championship with a double match against Serbia, which in a way will also be a great test before the Olympic qualifications in April.
The Lionesses expect their first match with Serbia in Zrenjanin's "Kristalna Dvorana" on Thursday (18 p.m.), while the same rivals will meet three days later (18 p.m.) in the "Bemax Arena" in Podgorica.
The goal of Bojana Popović's girls is clear.
"It is certain that we will get two points both there and at home - that is very important for us," pointed out Jelena Despotović, defender of Montenegro.
Tatjana Brnović had a similar message.
"We want to win two points - first in Zrenjanin, then at home. It can be said that we are the favorites against Serbia and it is up to us to defend that role," said the Montenegrin center.
The rival is well known...
"Serbia is a high-quality national team, they showed it at the European Championship, where they were tied with the host Denmark and a national team like Germany. Now they are playing in front of their own audience, so they will demand maximum focus and fighting spirit from us from start to finish. Victory is our desire," emphasized Jelena Despotović.
Montenegro finished the last major competition, the World Cup in Scandinavia, in seventh place, while Serbia ended up in 21st place.
"Two serious games and a well-known rival await us - everything is viewed only through victory or defeat. For us, victory is imperative, there are no other additional motives", Tatjana Brnović believes.
Qualification for the Olympic Games can hardly be on the back burner at this point.
"All this looks like the final preparation for that tournament in April. Of course, one of the main topics from the moment we drew the group, because the Olympic Games is the dream of every athlete - as cliché as it sounds. I think we are already there, but these are not less important matches," Tatjana says.
At the tournament in Ulm, the rivals of the "lions" will be home country Germany, the Slovenia of our Dragan Adžić and Paraguay - the two best selections will buy a ticket to the Games in Paris.
"We know what awaits us in April, so we use every moment we have together," concluded Jelena.
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