The match against Switzerland at the European Championship was the last in the jersey with the national emblem for the captain of the Montenegrin national handball team – Mirko Radović.
Radović made his debut for our national team in January 2011, and during his rich international career, he wore the jersey of Montenegro in eight major competitions - seven European Championships and the 2023 World Cup.
After the match against Switzerland, his last in a jersey with the national emblem, Mirko Radović said goodbye to the Montenegrin national team in tears.
"I made the decision before the championship. I kept it to myself until the end. The guys knew, but we kept it to ourselves. This was my last match for the national team. I am proud of my career and everything this jersey has given me. And I think I gave it the most I could. Whether that was enough, we will see in retrospect. It was an honor for me, as a child I never dreamed that I would play for the national team for so many years," Radović emphasized after the match with Switzerland.
As he said, he spent more than half his life in the national team, including appearances in the younger teams, and he believes that with his attitude, fight and behavior he showed everyone how much Montenegro meant to him.
"I have been in the Montenegrin jersey since I was 15, so I have spent more than half of my life in this, for me, sacred jersey. It is certainly hard for me to say goodbye, but I think I have given my all, and I am leaving at a time when there are young guys who can succeed me and in whom I believe. I am leaving the national team in good hands as far as the guys who are staying after me are concerned. In me, they will have the biggest fan in the world. They will get back on the right path stronger than ever. I believe in them, and I also think that Montenegro should believe in them. I will watch them with pride and support Montenegro with all my heart," said Radović.
The captain of the "Lions" emphasized that it was an honor and pride for him to wear the national team jersey, which means everything to him.
"It's hard to find words like this. I never dreamed that I would represent Montenegro in so many championships, that I would wear the jersey so many times. Every time I tried to give it my heart and soul, and that's how I was raised - to give everything on the field for Montenegro. Thank you to my country for giving birth to me like this and thank you for my career in the jersey with the national emblem," Radović was emotional.
The Handball Federation of Montenegro thanked Radović for everything he did for the national team.
"He gave a lot to the national team - with his fighting spirit, example on the field and leadership off it. He was a role model for his teammates and a true captain, someone who always knew what it meant to wear a jersey with the national emblem. Mirko, on behalf of the Handball Federation of Montenegro and the fans, thank you for everything you gave to the Montenegrin national team," the Federation said.
Montenegro failed at the European Championship, ending its performance at the continental tournament with three defeats and 121 goals conceded.
"We failed on all fronts - in defense, in attack and in returning to defense after lost balls. A bad game from our side. I find it difficult to find words to describe the game. The defense was bad, we conceded "We conceded a lot of goals, especially in the set zone, from half-counters and counterattacks, technical errors. A bad game from all of us, I'm sorry about that," said Radović after the defeat to Switzerland.
In the end, it turned out that the game against Slovenia was the best of the championship.
"We thought we would play better than against Slovenia, and it turned out to be our best game. We couldn't find the strength to get out of this hole we fell into. I don't know what to say, to describe everything that has happened in recent days," concluded Radović.
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