The last match of the World Championship played in Dortmund, sung by the fans of the Norwegian Boda/Glimt, brought nothing unexpected. The Montenegrin handball team fought, played as hard as they could, but against the team "from another planet" stronger resistance was impossible.
The "Lionesses" said goodbye to the World Cup with a defeat to the powerful Norway (32:23), the current Olympic and European champions and a team that defeated all other rivals in the tournament by double-digit margins.
There may have been matches in Trier and Dortmund in which our national team could have done better, perhaps the deficit against Norway could have been smaller if there had been fewer errors (as many as 24), but the overall impression is that Suzana Lazović's team achieved their goal, that by placing among the top eight, they confirmed that they are still among the world's top teams.
Montenegro did not skip the quarterfinals at the World Championships this time either, but this time such a thing was not even realistic.
Norway started strongly from the start, but Montenegro helped them a lot with their attacking mistakes, so the scoreboard in the "Westfalenhalle" quickly showed 4:0.
Unlike the matches with Spain and especially Germany, the "Lionesses" reacted quickly. Armel Atingre was good in goal as usual, Tatjana Brnović, Jelena Vukčević and Đurđina Jauković scored, and Montenegro reached minus two (5:3).
Suzana Lazović's team tried after that, but it's difficult to play against the best team in the world, so the advantage of Heni Rajstad and her team was constantly growing, and at the end of the first half there was a big 18:9.
However, two goals by Đurđina Jauković took the "lionesses" to the break with a minus eight (18:11), and the impression - regardless of the big lead - was that Norway was not dominating like in previous matches at the World Cup.
Poor play marked the beginning of the second half, and Norway, supported by the Boda/Glimt fans (the Norwegian team plays against Borussia tomorrow in the Champions League), quickly went to 25:13. After that, it seemed that the "lionesses" fell into the Norwegian machine, but they refused to sink.
Captain Đurđina Jauković, Dijana Trivić and Jelena Vukčević scored, and the "lionesses" finished the World Cup with a minus nine. In other circumstances, it would have been a debacle, but at this moment it is an honorable farewell.
NORWAY - MONTENEGRO 32:23 (19:11)
Dortmund - "Westfalenhalle". Attendance: 7.000. Referees: Karim Gasmi and Rauf Gasmi (France). 7-pointers: Norway 2 (2), Montenegro 4 (4). Suspensions: Norway 10, Montenegro 10 minutes.
Norway: Lunde (four defenses), Rosok (four defenses), Kristijansen 1, Ordal 3, Skogrand 3, L. Rušfelt-Deila, Merk 4, Aune 1, Brejstol 2, Ingstad 1, Henriksen, Bakerud, Rajstad 8, Hovden 3, T. Rušfelt-Deila 3, Volik 2.
Montenegro: Atingre (seven saves), M. Marsenić (three saves), A. Marsenić, Mitrović, Jauković 8, Pletikosić 3, Godeč, Trivić 3, Džaferović, Vukčević 4, Božović, Brnović 2, Bulatović, Tatar, Pavicevic, Grbić 2.
End - Montenegro said goodbye to the World Cup with a minus nine (32:23) against the world's strongest team.
Gina scores again - 30:21.
Seventh goal by Đurđina Jauković, Montenegro is down 10 (30:20).
Montenegro is fighting, but the match has long been decided - in the 54th minute, Norway is leading 30:19.
That's why Norway scores two more goals for 27:16.
Good period for the "Lionesses" - after Armel Atingra's defense, Matea Pletikosić also scored (25:16).
Montenegro could have gone down to minus eight, but Itana Grbić was inaccurate in two attacks.
Jelena Vukčević from the seven-meter point reduces the score to minus 10 (25:15).
A short break in "Westfalenhalle" due to an injury to Đurđina Jauković - our captain was hit in the neck, but after receiving medical attention, everything seems to be fine.
Nice goal by Dijana Trivić - with a right hand from the right wing (25:14).
Norway took off, Rajstad scored for 23:12, then Nora Merk for 25:13.
A goal by Đurđina Jauković opened the second half, but Norway took a double-digit lead for the first time (22:12) with goals from Veronika Kristijansen and Nora Merk (two).
The first half is over, solid resistance from the "Lionesses" against a powerful rival - 19:11.
Armel Atingre took down Aniken Volik's jumper, after which Đurđina Jauković was safe twice from the penalty line - 18:11.
Sixth goal by Heni Rystad, Norway takes a new biggest lead - 18:9.
Goals from Đurđina Jauković and Matea Pletikosić, the "lionesses" are trying, but it is difficult to play against the strongest team in the world (14:7).
Norway is too fast for Montenegro - Ordal scores for 13:5
Nice action by Itana Grbić and Matea Pletikosić (10:5).
However, Norway's advantage grows - Rystad scores for 10:4.
Montenegro breaks Norway's streak with a counterattack - Dijana Trivić found Tatjana Brnović from her own half for 8:4.
Bonus video:
