From a city that has existed since the first century BC, not very large by German standards, but the oldest in that country, the eighth World Cup story for the Montenegrin women's handball team begins.
The "Lionesses" will play their first three World Cup matches in Trier, hoping that the city on the border with Luxembourg will be just the first stop on the way to Rotterdam, where the tournament final will be held.
The first rival is well known - the Faroe Islands tonight at 8:30 PM in the arena that bears the city's name and which is the smallest of the three German arenas where the world championship is played.
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This is followed by matches against Paraguay and Spain, and the top three teams travel to Dortmund, the second stop on the way to the Dutch port and the place where the main round and two quarterfinal matches will be played.
- We are taking it step by step, preparing for the Faroe Islands. They are the only thing on our minds. Our first goal is to do as well as possible in the group - the message is Đurđine Jauković, who will make her debut as captain at major competitions.
It's a long tournament.
The "Lionesses" played their last match before the World Cup against the rivals they will open the World Cup with - in the EHF Euro qualifiers, our national team defeated the Faroe Islands 32:26 a little over a month ago. The first matches at major tournaments are often the toughest.
- We can't expect everything to be great right from the first game, we'll have to slowly improve our form throughout the competition. It's a long tournament, so our focus is currently only on the first group and the duel with the Faroe Islands - Đurđina is clear.
Although no one from the team Suzana Lazović does not want to mention Spain, it is clear that the clash for the "warriors" should be decisive for the continuation of the competition.
- Spain is a quality team, we know that they last won a medal in 2019. That team is also rejuvenated, but with a coach Ambros Martin - He managed to find new energy, they have new girls on the team - explained the girl on whom a lot will depend in Montenegro's game in both directions.
Faroe Islands like Spain
The draw for the World Cup was in Montenegro's favor, so they will open the tournament with two teams they are favorites against, and then they will play Spain to decide who will carry more points into the main round.
- It's definitely a good group for us - he doesn't hide it Tatjana Brnović.
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The vice-captain adds:
- We start with the Faroe Islands, who we met in the qualifiers, where we could have done better. Next up is Paraguay, a slightly atypical team, but we are definitely going for the win. Spain? Everyone knows what a quality school of handball they are. They have gone through a phase of change, but a school is a school, the approach is the same.
The girl born in Cetinje and one of the best pivots in the world once again emphasized the importance of the first match.
- The match we played a month ago was a real indicator of what kind of team the Faroe Islands are. They are a very serious and physically fit team and should not be underestimated. We approach the Faroe Islands the same way we would Spain - concluded Tatjana.
Two countries, five cities, 11 champions
The hosts of the 27th World Championship are Germany and the Netherlands, and handball will be played in five cities in the coming days - Trier, Dortmund and Stuttgart on one side and Rotterdam and 's-Hertogenbosch on the other.
The main round and quarter-finals will be hosted by Dortmund and Rotterdam, while the semi-finals, final and third-place match will be played only in the famous Dutch port.
The largest hall is the “Rotterdam Ahoy” with a capacity of 16.000, and the second is the “Westfalenhalle” in Dortmund with 12.000. The smallest are the “Trier Arena” (5.400) and the “Maspoort” in Hertongenbos (3.500).
The World Cup will feature 11 previous world champions - Norway (4), Germany (4), France (3), Hungary, Serbia (successor to Yugoslavia), Denmark, Romania, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, South Korea and Brazil (once each). More precisely, the only champions not to be represented will be Russia, which, as an independent country and the USSR, was the best seven times.
World Cup 2026, first round
Group A (Rotterdam)
Thursday
Romania - Croatia (18pm)
Danish - Japan (8:30 p.m.)
Group B (Hertogenbos)
Thursday
Switzerland - Iran (18pm)
Hungary - Senegal (8:30 p.m.)
Group C (Stuttgart)
Today
Germany - Iceland (18pm)
Serbia - Uruguay (8:30 p.m.)
Group D (Trier)
Today
Spain - Paraguay (18pm)
Montenegro - F. Ostrva (20.30h)
Group E (Rotterdam)
Friday
Austria - Egypt (18pm)
Netherlands - Argentina (8:30 p.m.)
Group F (Hertongenbos)
Friday
Poland - China (6:30 p.m.)
France - Tunisia (21pm)
Group G (Stuttgart)
Thursday
Brazil - Cuba (18h)
Sweden - Czech Republic (8:30 p.m.)
Group H (Three)
Thursday
Angola - Kazakhstan (18h)
Norway - South Korea (8:30 p.m.)
Bonus video:
