After ten years, the Phoenix Arena and Debrecen will once again be one of the hosts of the European Handball Championship - unlike in 2014, this time one of the groups in which Montenegro is participating.
The countdown is practically over, the EHF Euro in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland starts tomorrow, and a day later our national team will take to the field for the first time.
The "lionesses" will open their eighth appearance at the European championships against their old and well-known rival Serbia - on Friday at 20.30:XNUMX p.m.
"We are expecting a tough match with Serbia, but we will fight to the last atom of strength, but they will do the same. We played two matches in the qualifiers and it was not easy for us then," said Matea Pletikosić from Debrecen.
The selected Suzana Lazović will defend the bronze medal won two years ago when Montenegro was one of the organizers of the European Championship.
"It's certain that we still have ambitions, but I don't think we need to talk about them publicly. It's best to go step by step," said the Podravka handball player.
We may be the favourites, but...
Over the years, Montenegro has won matches with Serbia in most cases, but the last one in major competitions went to the selection from the neighboring country - at the 2021 World Cup in Spain (27:25).
"We may be a slight favorite on paper, but we have to show it on the field. A win at the start of the European Championship would bring us confidence before the rest of the season," believes our center back.
Tanja Ivanovic: An interesting and difficult match
Montenegro's ambitions at the European Championship were not hidden by Tanja Ivanović, the right back of our national team.
"Because of all the results of Montenegro, they are always high, it will be the same this time as well. I believe in this team, there are now players that we lacked earlier, so I believe that we will achieve a good result", stressed the Buducnosti handball player.
It is hard to be surprised in the first match on the floor of "Phoenix Arena", after all, Montenegro and Serbia also played in the qualifiers for this EHF Euro, when the "lionesses" celebrated both times in exciting matches.
"We know Serbia very well, we have played with them many times and we know it will be difficult, so we will have to be focused throughout the game and play our game," explained Tanja.
She also turned to the aforementioned victories in the qualifiers played in Zrenjanjin (31:30) and Podgorica (26:25).
"Looking at those duels, we are certainly favorites, but I wouldn't look at everything that way... Serbia has a slightly different team, I expect an interesting and difficult match. In any case, a victory would mean a win for us and, like any game, it would be an additional wind for us," she concluded. is Tanja Ivanovic.
EHF Euro, group B
Friday
Romania - Czech Republic (18h)
Montenegro - Serbia (20.30)
Sunday
Montenegro - Romania (18)
Serbia - Czech Republic (20.30:XNUMX p.m.)
Tuesday
Serbia - Romania (18 p.m.)
Czech Republic - Montenegro (20.30:XNUMX p.m.)
Bonus video:
