In exactly 38 days, Austria, Hungary and Switzerland will be the centers of women's handball, and the European Championship in those countries will be the eighth in which Montenegro will appear.
This time with the new selector Suzana Lazović, who is slowly starting to assemble the pieces after working with the "lionesses" for the first time in September.
"Only tomorrow we will be in full formation at training and I believe that we will be able to implement everything we imagined in this EHF week", said Suzana before today's national team meeting.
Unlike the first EHF week, this time our national team will have a test match and joint training sessions with Croatia.
"We have a big rotation and I think it will be enough against Croatia to prepare both tactically and technically everything we need for our rivals at the European Championship - Serbia, Romania and the Czech Republic," emphasized the Montenegrin coach.
Every training session is also exciting
The match against Croatia on Friday will be her debut on the bench of the Lionesses.
"Excitement is also training with the national team, but if we allowed the excitement to prevail, then we would certainly not think soberly, we would not make the right decisions", Lazović does not allow her emotions to take her away.
What should Montenegro be like in that match?
"Calm and calm, because we know what we are preparing for. The result is not a priority, but we want to see the shortcomings, so that we can show the best possible games at the European Championship".
Rotation and goal at the Euro
The European Championship arrives after the failure in the qualification for the Olympic Games, with the fact that this time Montenegro will be stronger, since Milena Raičević and Đurđina Jauković are returning to the team.
"I'm happy with a lot of rotations, especially since Đina is back after a long break. We have quality players in every position, I wouldn't separate the backs, pivots, wings, or goalkeepers. When there are changes, I believe that the game will not fall, but that we will step by step go up".
What are Montenegro's ambitions at the European Championship?
"The goal is to give the maximum, honor the agreement and create a team spirit. What has always adorned the 'lionesses' is hunger. In the end, that hunger always brought results," Suzana Lazović is clear.
Defense, fast center, transition
As a player, Suzana Lazović commanded the defense of Montenegro, and now she expects her chosen ones to play similarly.
"Defense will be primary, the key to every game. After that, we will try to perform a 'fast center' and transition, and it is also important to return to defense. As for the attack, we need to methodically break down all actions as necessary, to be disciplined and we will honor the mutual agreement, which will be the most important".
Montenegro will play the first stage of the Euros in Debrecen, and the rivals in group B are well known.
"We believe that we will be able to prepare in the best possible way and do the analysis as necessary. Montenegro already had the experience of playing against Serbia, Romania and the Czech Republic. Three strong opponents await us, and it is certain that everything depends on us, on that's how ready we will wait and get into the matches," concluded Suzana Lazović.
Bonus video:
