From a gloomy spring to an autumn that awakens hope again - Montenegrin handball players have been through a lot in half a year, but when they had to stand up again, they showed why they deserved the applause and song of the fans after the April nightmare.
From one of the heaviest defeats in history, the elimination from Italy in the play-offs for the World Cup, they came back with victories and after the triumph over Finland (29:28) and Slovakia (38:35) opened the door to the European Championship wide.
- I am satisfied, and I think it is the same with the entire team and professional staff - he told "Vijesti" Branko Vujović after he arrived in Bucharest after the matches in Podgorica and Košice.
The right back of the "lions", who is at a new beginning and in front of the eyes of the new coach Didier Dinar showed that he is one of the leaders of our national team, he is sure of all that precisely because of the things that have happened in the last few months.
- That's right, I mean all that especially because it is known that in the previous period we fell in some way - more psychologically than playing. We lacked a bit of self-confidence, it is still less felt, but I think that we are starting to come out of the crisis and that everything will be even better. All that comes with victories," the Dinamo Bucharest handball player is clear, adding:
- Those are the reasons why I am happy, but of course also because of the four points, because we all want to qualify for the European Championship.
Maybe subconsciously there was doubt
Finland and Slovakia are not world leaders, but neither was Italy - after all, was there a little bit of fear or doubt before the start of the EHF Euro qualifiers?
- We didn't talk about it directly between us, but there was definitely something - at least subconsciously, because we didn't know what we were up to and whether we had overcome everything.
With the arrival of one of the most famous defenders in the history of handball, Montenegro is expected to be steel defensively, but the first two matches (especially the second) brought an atomic and fluid attack.
- I think that both the attack and the defense looked correct, and we know that it is difficult to play everything in a few days - new actions, ideas, a new system - emphasized Vujović.
The next matches in the qualifiers don't arrive until March (two derbies with Hungary), and by then Dinar will have much more time to convey his ideas to the players without too much pressure from going to the European Principality.
- Everything was really new now and there was no time to play and work, but I think that in a short time we have respected a lot, although there is certainly still room for improvement, so I hope that everything will get better and better - he pointed out. bomber" from Nikšić.
Čepic was amazing
The defenders of Montenegro once again showed what a strength our national team can be.
- We played correctly, and what particularly pleases me is that we played until we had a chance, we didn't force and choke the ball - says Vujović.
He singled out one of his teammates from the back line.
- Radojica Čepić has been incredible during these two games, not only in penetrating and scoring goals, but also in the way the team plays. He really meant a lot to us - underlined Vujović.
Italy was once again an unavoidable topic, because after Montenegro, at the start of these qualifications, they tormented Spain in Valencia (defeat 31:30), and then defeated Serbia in Fazana (31:30).
- Although I think that Serbia has a much better team, I somehow expected that this kind of result could happen, because I assumed that they would underestimate Italy, just like we did. And, that selection is not to be underestimated at all, especially when playing at home. They are new, so maybe most teams don't approach the game like they would against some of the stronger teams. They use all that perfectly and kudos to them - said Vujović.
The Champions League is a special feeling
Branko Vujović arrived in Dinamo from Bucharest this summer from Hanover, and already after a few months in the capital of Romania, he knows that the decision was correct.
- I am very happy in Bucharest, first of all because I am back in the Champions League - I think that is a special feeling for every player - says the defender of "Lions" and adds:
- As far as the club is concerned, everything is working as it should. The team is new, we have a lot of young players, we are playing well, we are third in the group, and we have only been defeated by Paris Saint-Germain and Vesprem... So there are plenty of reasons for everyone to be overjoyed.
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