Montenegro Handball Team Prepares for European Championship Challenge

The Montenegro handball team is gearing up for its eighth appearance at the European Championship, set to take place in January 2024. The team will kick off its preparations this week with two friendly matches against Belgium, held at the “Verde” sports hall on January 5 and 6. Coach Miloš Božović emphasizes the importance of these matches as they aim to solidify their strategies ahead of the tournament, which begins on January 16, 2024.

Božović has expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete effectively in their group, which includes Slovenia, the Faroe Islands, and Switzerland. “The group is such that we can win against anyone, but we can also lose to anyone,” he stated. He highlighted that the focus must be on their own performance and mental preparation for the upcoming games. The friendly matches against Belgium are seen as crucial for building the right mindset and tactics.

Montenegro achieved its best result in major tournaments during the 2022 European Championship, finishing in 11th place. Božović, who played a vital role in that success, believes the current squad has the quality to advance to the main round once again. “After all these years, we cannot ignore our role as favorites in some matches or pretend not to know what is happening. The primary goal is to get through the group stage, and we will talk about other things later,” he said.

In addition to Božović’s insights, Milorad Bakić, a promising young player, echoed the sentiment regarding the need to take Belgium seriously. “Belgium should not be underestimated; we have seen their performance against Italy when they were a potential opponent for us in the World Cup qualifiers. Even though these are friendly matches, we must enter with maximum concentration,” Bakić stated.

At just 30 years old, Bakić is one of the experienced players in the squad, competing alongside younger talents. He expressed gratitude to the coach for including him in the team and shared his thoughts on his recovery from a recent injury. “I am physically feeling excellent and ready to contribute,” he added.

Both players recognize the significance of their upcoming matches as they strive for victory. Bakić emphasized the team’s ambition to secure three wins in the European Championship, showcasing their capability to compete with any opponent. “Everything is possible at the European Championship. We aim for all three wins to show that we can play against anyone and achieve the best possible result,” he stated.

As Montenegro prepares for its matches against Belgium, the team aims to build momentum and confidence ahead of the European Championship. With the tournament just around the corner, the players are focused on demonstrating their readiness and determination on the international stage.