A ticket to a new major competition awaits in the city with the largest airport in Finland - with a victory in Vantaa on Thursday, the Montenegrin handball team would officially secure a place in the European Championship and schedule a Sunday celebration in Bar.
It's time for the "Lions"' last two matches in the qualifiers, a trip to the EHF Euro is practically secured after the draw with Hungary in March, but Didier Dinar's men want everything to be official after the match with Finland, Thursday at 17.30:XNUMX p.m.
"That first match is extremely important - we have to celebrate in order to secure second place in the group," said Miloš Vujović.
Miloš Božović had the same message.
"We already talked about it in the meeting - winning is something we are thinking about, without calculations, to secure second place."
In Podgorica we learned that there is no relaxation
Montenegro defeated Finland (29:28) at the start of the qualifiers and Didier Dinar's debut on the bench of the "Lions", and a few days later Slovakia away (38:35). If they win in Vantaa, the new match with the Slovaks in "Topolica" (Sunday, 18pm) will have no significance in the result.
"We have two very important matches coming up - both teams showed quality against us, so we have to approach these matches cautiously. We beat Finland in Podgorica by a plus one, so it's clear that we don't have much room for relaxation," added Vujović.
He turned once again to the first game with the Finns.
"That match gave us signals that we must not underestimate them at any moment. Finland has won twice against Slovakia and it is certain that they have great ambitions against us."
However, Montenegro is the favorite in this match for everything.
"I think we are a better team, with better players - I can say that even in every position. However, one thing is paper, and another is the field. We have to show it all to him and return to Montenegro with a victory," Vujović is clear.
A new era of "lions" began in a way from Finland to Podgorica.
"It was the first match with the new coach, it took us a little time to get used to it, to accept his style and system... After a certain period with him, I think we are a lot better at it and that we will be able to finish the next match much easier," the Montenegrin winger has no doubt.
We know why we're going to Finland.
Miloš Božović is one of the more experienced players in the Montenegrin team, and he is returning to the national team after having to skip several previous gatherings.
"After missing meetings due to injuries and commitments, we have reached the end of the qualifiers where, above all, we want to achieve victory in Finland. That is imperative, so that we can enjoy the match in Bar afterwards," Božović pointed out.
And our left back knows that relaxing is forbidden.
"Looking at Finland's performance against us and Slovakia, we expect a very difficult game, but we know why we are going there and we want to perform in that way - victory is what we want and I have no doubt that it will happen."
Even in the event of a defeat, Montenegro would probably be among the best third-placed teams traveling to the continental championship in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, while the Finns know they have to win.
"Maybe that's why there's a willpower factor on their side, but I'm sure it's not lacking here either," Božović said.
I have known Dinar for 15 years.
Working with the new coach shouldn't be complicated for Božović because they have known each other for a long time.
"I've known Didier for almost 15 or 16 years, ever since the juniors when I went to Ciudad Madrid with Stefan Čavor as a junior. We were teammates to some extent for those two years, then he was my coach for two years at Ivri, so it makes it a lot easier when you know someone as a coach, you know the system, you know what he expects from you," concluded Božović.
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