The atmosphere that "swallowed" the handball giants many times did not scare the outsider, and it could not when Italy had a confused and unrecognizable Montenegro across from them.
The debacle that started on the other side of the Adriatic was completed in the almost invincible "Morači" - "lions" not that they failed to melt Italy's advantage from the first match (32:26), but they received another slap from a team that is far from top of the world, but which is clearly better at the moment.
After minus six in Konversan, the Montenegrin handball players were also defeated in Podgorica - 34:32, and the time-out, which is now a former coach Vlado Shola (after the match he said he was going) requested half a minute to the end, he perhaps best illustrated how confused the "lions" looked since the Croatian expert sat on the bench of our national team.
- It's simple - Italy outplayed us in both matches, they were better both in defense and attack - said Šola.
DON'T MISS IT
After three big competitions in a row, next January, Montenegrin handball players will watch the best selections next to the TV screen, and the next tournament they could compete in is the 2026 European Championship - maybe too much waiting for this generation.
- All we have to do is get together, get together in order to work even better in the future, to correct mistakes and get back on the right path - he pointed out. Luka Radovic, one of the better ones in the second leg.
NO IDEA, DEFENSE, DESIRE...
Similar to Konversan, the "lions" entered the match without an idea in attack, without a real defense for the fast backs of the "azure" (first of all Giacomo Savini i Simone Megnon), who practically "passed" our defensive line before every hit.
And instead of Italy's advantage from the first match starting to melt on the wings of the fans already in that part of the match, it only grew in favor of the visitors.
When Vlada Šola's chosen ones managed to get close - the last time in the first part at 12:11 in the 23rd minute - the team Ricardo Trillini the new series would "freeze" the fans in "Morača", so the scoreboard at halftime showed plus four for Italy (17:13), and minus 10 in total for Montenegro.
- I think that Italy wanted to qualify for the World Cup much more than us - we didn't show our true colors in either the first or the second match - added Radović.
APPLAUSE FOR THE PLAYERS
A similar story was seen in the second half. The last time Montenegro had a chance to maybe turn the game around was in the 49th minute when it did Aleksandar Bakić shot for minus one (27:26), and in the next attack to equalize he "sold" the ball Branko Vujović, the biggest star in our national team.
Even in those moments, the Italians played calmly as if they had many big competitions behind them. They have been waiting for the placement since 1998 and waited to celebrate it right in Podgorica.
The disappointment is huge, Shola left the field with his head down after some of the fans demanded his resignation, while the players stayed and received applause from the fans.
- The atmosphere was great, but she can't win the game alone - said Šola.
- I'm sorry that we let the fans down - added Radović and continued:
- You only experience this once, you live for things like this, something perfect - everything that children dream of when they start playing sports.
Schola is leaving, the legendary pivot said goodbye in a sad way Nemanja Grbović, the other players and problems remain, and it is up to the Handball Association to find the ideal coach for them, first of all because it is clear that the decline started shortly before the arrival of the Croatian expert - during the 2023 World Championship.
The selector left, the problems remained
Immediately after the game, Vlado Šola took responsibility and made the expected but also humane decision to resign from the position of coach.
- I congratulate the players and take responsibility for everything... Everything that was bad is my fault. I am resigning immediately, I am sorry if I disappointed the handball world in Montenegro - said Šola.
He also had an interesting comment below...
- I don't want to speak in a way that someone intentionally did something or didn't want to. I won't say who played well or badly, it's all up to me and I'm standing in front of them. Successes and failures happen in sports. This is a failure, especially for me - added Shola.
The Croatian expert marked only himself as the culprit for the failure, but it is clear that those who appointed him as coach are equally to blame, because they clearly did not properly assess who could best upgrade the generation that promised a lot at the 2022 European Championship, and which even Italy is not afraid of now.
MONTENEGRO - ITALY 32:34 (13:17)
Podgorica - Hall "Morača". Spectators: 5.300. Referees: D. Akoto-Martinš and R. Akoto-Martinš (Portugal). Sevens: Italy 4 (3). Exclusions: Montenegro 8, Italy 6 minutes. Red card: Kaluđerović (Montenegro) in the 39th minute.
Montenegro: Matović (four saves and seven goals), Simić (two saves), A. Bakić 3, Dragašević 1, M. Vujović 1, Čavor 2, Lazović, Ćorsović 2, B. Vujović 5, M. Radović, Kaluđerović 2, L. Radović 6, Krivokapić 1, M. Bakić, Borozan 5, Grbović 4.
Italy: Ebner (10 saves), Colleluori (one save), De Angelis, Dapiran 1, Bulcamini 1, Savini 6, M. Mengon 1, Bronco 8 (1), S. Mengon 8, Ibali, Bortoli 1, Puljeze, Manojlović , Helmerson 2 (2), Morocco, Parisini 6.
Bonus video:
