By flight from Podgorica, via Warsaw, the "lionesses" will arrive in Ulm around 22:XNUMX tonight, and there are only two routes from the medieval city on the Danube - one to Paris and the Olympic Games, while the other would mean returning home and a summer without the biggest sports spectacle.
The wait is over, it's time for the most important three matches since Tokyo 2021 - Montenegrin handball players will start their Olympic qualification against Paraguay tomorrow evening (Thursday, 20.15:XNUMX p.m.). Rivals in Ulm will be hosted by Germany and Slovenia, and the two best selections will book their tickets to France.
"All this has been waiting for four years, so the stake is huge, maybe the biggest so far," she said Tatjana Brnović, the pivot of Montenegro and one of the best handball players on the planet.
"This is the biggest challenge so far and the biggest dream of all of us. Difficult qualifications await us, it will be a big fight, but we have a great desire to go to Paris, so we believe that we will succeed in that," she added. Ivona Pavićević, the left wing of the "lioness".
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When the Olympic Games are at stake, there are no easy rivals on the way to them, but the first rival, nevertheless, should only be a "warm-up" for the weekend decisions and matches with Germany and Slovenia.
What is the difference between Montenegro and Paraguay was best shown by the match at the recent World Cup when the girls Bojana Popović had an easier training (41:26).
"Germany is probably the favorite of the tournament, because it is the host. Slovenia is certainly an excellent national team, just like us," Ivona pointed out.
The Lionesses believe in themselves, but they know that no one will give them a ticket to Paris in Ulm.
"I expect a great fight. Huge desire should be our main trump card and it can be clearly seen on the field. We want to show why we came and to achieve our goal," Tatjana Brnović is clear.
The wing of Montenegro thinks similarly.
"We have serious opponents waiting for us, but we are decorated with great energy, fight, desire, so I believe that we will be successful in Ulm", added Ivona Pavićević.
A special story, perhaps decisive, will be the clash with Slovenia led by the legendary Montenegrin coach Dragan Adzic, the man who won the only Olympic medal in the history of Montenegro with the "lionesses" 12 years ago.
"In general, everyone from our national team knows Slovenia, because we played a lot of sparring matches with Crimea and the national team. They are not unknown. Itana Grbić and I play there, so we know them additionally. We will certainly not be a surprise to them, nor they to us." , says Tanja, while Ivona adds.
"We know each other very well and the team that wants to win more at that moment will certainly celebrate - it's the Olympic Games, so everyone will give their best and do their best".
What should be Montenegro's trump card on the way to Paris?
"Strength, determination and faith in what we do," Tatjana Brnović pointed out.
"Character", said Ivona Pavićević.
"Lice" at the tournament in Ulm
Thursday
Montenegro - Paraguay (20.15:XNUMX p.m.)
Saturday
Montenegro - Germany (14.15:XNUMX p.m.)
Sunday
Montenegro - Slovenia (16.00:XNUMX)
Bonus video:
