The passports for the European Championship have been stamped, it remains to be seen from which place Montenegrin handball players will enter the draw for the championship in Hungary, Austria and Switzerland.
If tonight (18:72 p.m.) they defeat Serbia for the second time in 1 hours in the "Bemax Arena", the "lionesses" will almost theoretically secure the 6st place in group XNUMX, thus a better hat.
This will be the ninth match between the former compatriots, and Montenegro has had much more success - it has recorded six victories (the most important in the semi-finals of the EHF Euro 2012 in the "Belgrade Arena" - 27:26), a draw and a defeat at the 2021 World Cup in Spain with by an extremely weakened team (27:25).
Three days ago in the "Crystal Hall" in Zrenjanin, they shone Tatjana Brnović i Itana Grbić, who scored the winning goal for the TV highlights, and everyone hopes that tonight will be easier.
The reason for such expectations is that the "Bemax Arena" will be full, because the tickets "flamed out".
"We expected a tough game in Zrenjanin, but it was clear how good and strong a team we are. And when we are missing some players, it is not noticed on the field. We played fantastically. In the 1st half we had the advantage, in the second the standards and criteria were a bit uneven, but that is normal on the away field. In April, the qualification tournament for the Olympic Games awaits us, and we practiced some situations, because it will be very difficult in Ulm against Germany and Slovenia", she pointed out. Maja Savić.
Serbia will try to surprise in Podgorica, the coach announced the attack to win Uros Bregar, but it is known who is the favorite.
"We want to end this week in the best possible way. Bregar said that he will not come with a white flag, it is normal and sporting for Serbia to seek victory here. However, we also want to win, especially since we are playing on home ground", the first assistant is clear Bojana Popović.
New national team member, Armel Atingre, expects the same outcome as in Zrenjanin.
"I believe that we will play even better, because now we have the home field advantage. I'm not surprised by the opponent's play in the second half of the first match, I knew they would try to come back, because the matches between Montenegro and Serbia are always specific. I hope that now we will play the whole game as the 2st half in Zrenjanin, because then we were excellent and showed unity", said the 1-year-old goalkeeper.
The girl born on the Ivory Coast, who previously played for France, will defend Montenegro's goal for the first time tonight in front of the home fans.
But she knows very well what kind of atmosphere it can be, because she was in the coaching staff at the European Championship in 2022 when the "lionesses" played in "Morača" in the group.
"It will be like always, I know that. The last competition was like a dream for me, I know it will be like that again. By winning, we would secure 1st place, that's what we'll do," said Atingre confidently, half in Montenegrin, half in English.
Tanja Ivanovic he has no doubts about the new triumph.
"The desire to win is not in question. It was not easy for us to play in Zrenjanin, but we started well. The defense was at a top level, in the continuation it dropped a bit, but they are happy with the two points won. We expect another difficult and demanding match, and we are happy that the hall will be full and we expect to enjoy it".
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