When in a match that is "to be or not to be", which carries stress that everything could end painfully after it, you leave the rival with four goals in the first half, then that speaks volumes about the quality and character of the team.
Montenegrin handball players are once again scaring Europe, the "lionesses" did not deal with calculations but won their place in the main round in style - with a convincing game and victory against the Czech Republic 28:21 (12:4).
Three clean wins, a defense that "destroys" rivals and two points for the main round that starts on Thursday.
The Czech Republic entered the game brilliantly on the wings of Marketa Ježabkova, after five minutes they led 3:1, and then they hit the Montenegrin wall.
By the end of the half, the net of the great Armel Atingra shook only once more, and when the "lionesses" finally got rid of their nervousness in the attack after Suzana Lazović's time-out, it was clear that this would be a Montenegrin night in Debrecen.
Until the 18th minute, the scoreboard in "Fenix Arena" showed an unreal 3:3, the "lionesses" missed shots - Tanja Ivanovic hit the goal frame three times, there was no safety even from the wing, but then the "fury" in red started. ..
Nina Bulatović and Ivona Pavićević worked, Đurđina Jauković did not make a mistake from seven meters (which was brought by Tatjana Brnović), and Matea Pletikosić and Ivana Godeč also scored, so Montenegro went to the break with phenomenal plus eight (11:4).
The Czech Republic played much better in the rest, but all this was expected - the "lionesses" kept a big advantage without any problems, and if the rival even threatened, Đurđina Jauković's bombs or goals from Dijana Mugoša, Itana Grbić, Matea Pletikosić, and even strength from the bench of Jelena Vukčević and Katarina Džaferović...
In the main round, Montenegro will play against the host Hungary, France (these three selections transfer two points each), Poland and Sweden.
The spectacle in Debrecen continues on Thursday, and the first rival of our national team will be Hungary and the packed Phoenix Arena.
CZECH REPUBLIC - MONTENEGRO 21:28 (4:12)
Debrecen - "Phoenix Arena". Viewers: 1.404. Referees: Wejmans and Wolbertus (Netherlands). Sevens: Czech Republic 1 (1), Montenegro 5 (5). Suspensions: Czech Republic 12, Montenegro 12 minutes. Red card: Ivanovic (Montenegro) in the 42nd minute.
Czech Republic: Kudlačkova (three saves), Novotna (eight saves), Kenigova, Šrajbmajerova, Andriskova, Šustačkova 2, Desortova 1, Štelnerova 1, J. Frankova 2, Smetkova 3, A. Frankova 4, Dreslerova, Zahova, Ježabkova 4 (1 ), Mala 3, Holevova 1.
Montenegro: Rajčić (three saves), Atingre (10 saves), Batinović, Jauković 8 (4), Pletikosić 3, Godeč 1, Mugoša 2, J. Vukčević 1 (1), Ivanović 2, Brnović 1, Bulatović 4, Džaferović 2, Tatar, Raičević, Pavićević 1, Grbić 3.
KRAAAJ - a great victory for Montenegro, the lionesses went to the main round in style 28:21.
Whenever the Czech Republic starts a good game, Đurđina Jauković's "projectile" follows - 26:20, four and a half minutes to the end.
Montenegro is doing the job - there are six minutes left, the "lionesses" lead 25:19.
Jelena Vukčević also entered the list of scorers, Montenegro leads 23:16.
Less relaxation of the "lioness" Czech Republic uses to reduce the difference to 22:16.
Dijana Mugoš also played brilliantly, with her two tied goals, Montenegro reached 21:13.
The advantage of Montenegro is still big, but certainly the Czech Republic is playing much better compared to the first 30 minutes... However, even that is not enough for the moody "lionesses".
Tanja Ivanovic received a red card, the match is over for her, so Jelena Vukčević will take her place - Montenegro will have one less player for the next two minutes.
Itana Grbić scores another nice goal, the "lionesses" have a maximum plus nine (18:9).
New "bomb" by Đina Jauković, and then another goal, while Atingre continues with great defenses - Montenegro once again has the advantage from the break 17:9.
A great goal by Đurđina Jauković stopped the rush of the Czechs, and then Nina Bulatović returned plus six from another counterattack (15:9).
Tanja Ivanović scored the first goal for Montenegro in the follow-up, while the Czech Republic played much better, scoring as many goals in three minutes as in the entire first half (13:8).
The Czech Republic opened the second half well and with two tied goals reduced the great advantage of our national team to 12:6.
The second half started - Suzana Lazović changed the left wing, so instead of Ivona Pavićević, Dijana Mugoš is now in the game.
The end of the first half, in a way anthological - Montenegro keeps a watch on how to play defense, the Czech Republic scored only four goals in 30 minutes, the "lionesses" with plus eight (12:4) are "flying" towards the main round.
Everything looks ideal now - Đurđina Jauković, Tatjana Brnović and Ivana Godeč score from their half for 12:4.
Matea Pletikosić scored twice in a row (4:9)... The defense is still at the top level, and if the Czechs manage to get into a good position, there is Atingre, who has already made seven saves, while Bento Dala's girls have made several saves hit the posts and crossbars.
Đurđina Jauković had to take a mini-break after one shot, but she came back and hit another seven-pointer (4:7).
Czech Republic shakes the net after almost 17 minutes, after Ježabkova hit the empty goal of Montenegro (4:6).
Bonus video:
