Flying via Istanbul, the Montenegrin national handball team will travel to Oslo tomorrow for the European Championship, which will be held in Sweden, Denmark and Norway from January 15th to February 1st.
The "Lions" will play their Group D matches in Norway, and their rivals are Slovenia, the Faroe Islands and Switzerland. Our team will play their first match on Friday (18) against the Slovenians, two days later (18) their rivals are the Faroese, while the duel with the Swiss is scheduled for next Tuesday (18).
Two teams from Group D advance to the main stage and cross over with teams from Groups E and F to form a new group from which two teams advance to the semi-finals.
Group E includes Sweden, Croatia, the Netherlands and Georgia, and Group F includes Hungary, Iceland, Poland and Italy.
"We can't wait for the European Championship. There is euphoria, we can't wait for the first game. We have worked hard for the last 20 days, preparing for each opponent. We are taking it game by game. The first is against Slovenia, we are acting as if it is the only game. When that match is over, we will see what happens next. I think we worked well, hard, we gave our all, so we are slowly preparing," said the captain of the "Lions" Mirko Radović.
The winger of our national team analyzed Slovenia.
"They say Slovenia has a weakened squad due to some injuries and changes, but it's a team that has a system. They've changed coaches, they have continuity, players who play fast handball. TThese are players who play top-level handball, in the best teams in the Champions League. They have a good school. Every year they produce two or three top center backs, plus players in other positions.... The players who have cancelled their appearances are world-renowned, but the ones who are coming have incredible quality. Everyone is used to that system, there will be no deviations. They have various variations, Zorman feels "stamp," Radović explained.
The "Lions" are going to the continental competition with the desire to advance to the second round.
"I think our goal would be to get through the group. We're going step by step. With small steps to reach the goal we set. The group is balanced, everyone can beat everyone, there are no absolute favorites. I think it will be played until the last second of that third game, that the goal difference will decide. I think it will be an attractive group," Radović emphasized.
Montenegro will not have the strongest squad either, as it is known that coach Didije Dinar cannot count on Nebojša Simić, Nikola Matović and Aleksandar Bakić, while there were minor problems during the preparations. But Radović emphasizes that everyone who travels to Oslo will give their maximum.
"We always grit our teeth when it matters most. We feel those injuries much more. But I think that when needed, we will all make ourselves available. Now, how much anyone will be able to do is questionable. But I believe that whoever is on the field, healthy or injured, will give one hundred percent. That is what we can promise and claim," said Radović.
Montenegro is participating in the European Championship for the seventh time in a row, and the eighth time overall.
"When you add it up, it's our seventh in a row as a national team, which is proof of continuity and serious work. Also, those experiences from previous championships will certainly mean something to us. I'm looking forward to the championship. I can't wait to cross swords with all three national teams," concluded Radović.
Bonus video:
