Fourteen days to the fourth Olympic Games - Montenegrin handball players today started preparations for the key part of the year, probably the key moment of the Games in Tokyo 2021.
The Lionesses have gathered in Podgorica, and by April 14 they are expected to finish the qualification for the European Championship, where they have already secured a place and the tournament in Ulm, where they are waiting for two tickets to the Olympic Games.
"We are aware of the situation we are in and we know what is to come... This week comes as a preparation for what will happen in Ulm", said the coach Bojana Popović at today's briefing.
Already on Wednesday (15.00:11 p.m.) her girls are expecting a duel with Turkey in Rize, then on Sunday a match with Bulgaria in Podgorica, while the battle for Paris starts on April XNUMX with a match with Paraguay. In the group in Ulm with the "lionesses", hosts are Germany and Slovenia, led by ours Dragan Adzic - the two best selections will be part of the new Olympic story.
"Whoever doesn't believe, who doesn't see a little further and doesn't have dreams shouldn't be there. I always believe, I think that this team has great potential, that after all these years, many players who have come behind us have slowly grown up and that this is the right moment for this generation", Bojana is clear.
"Lice" at the pre-Olympic tournament
Montenegro - Paraguay, April 11 (20.15:XNUMX p.m.)
Montenegro - Germany, April 13 (14.15:XNUMX p.m.)
Montenegro - Slovenia, April 14 (16.00 p.m.)
Montenegrin handball players have so far only skipped the Games in Beijing 2008, and they will try to continue the streak in Paris.
"It would be a really great success to go to the Olympic Games one more time - the very departure of a country with a small base like Montenegro was a medal for me. There will be 12 best selections there and it is literally true that it is important to participate," Bojana believes. Popovic.
Three training sessions and two games before Ulm
As they previously secured a place in the European Championship, the matches with Turkey and Bulgaria for the "lionesses" come as good preparations for the Olympic qualifications.
"We have the matches with Serbia, the World Cup behind us, and this week, including the trips, we have a total of three training sessions and two matches to put together something concrete that we need for Germany and Slovenia," said the Montenegrin coach.
Maybe for such an important tournament, much more time is needed, but the situation is certainly better than before some previous Games.
"Previously, it used to happen that the qualification matches for the Olympic Games were played practically two or three days after we got together, so now every game is useful... Of course, we won't practice everything during them, because the goal is not to show everything we want to play in Ulm".
The legendary handball player wants her girls to travel to the German city on the Danube without pressure.
"I want the girls to enter everything without great expectations and burdens, because that can hold them back. It is also important that they stay healthy. They are aware of their roles, we all want Paris and sincerely dream and hope for it".
Injury and rotation issues
This time it was not without problems either...
"It is suspected that he is Đurđina Malović tore the back box, a Nina Bulatović is in the process of recovery..." emphasized Bojana.
There isn't either Ivan Godeč.
"She really played a fantastic season, she showed great potential at the World Cup and it's really a handicap that she's not there, but if we have room for rotation somewhere, she's in the pivot position. Tatjana Brnović which is standard and all the other girls will use the space they get in the right way".
When it comes to rotations, Bojana Popović will have to combine something when it comes to the backs, because they practically took the previous match with Serbia. Matea Pletikosic, Jelena Despotović i Itana Grbić.
"The rotation is what it is, we are waiting for matches that are played with life... There are other rotations, so we will try to find a solution for this as well," concluded Bojana.
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