National team of Montenegro in Osijek experienced a convincing defeat from Croatia (32:19), due to which the draw will be in Podgorica (June 14th). be a mere formality unless a miracle happens. Although Montenegrin handball players in the past decade knew that they were surprised by much stronger selection, such as Germany and Sweden, and last year they left Russia without a visa for the Euro this time, this did not happen, and the Montenegrin selection was played without key players.
If you know that Montenegro, which has only once been a planetary viewer in the past decade and who has only one victory in a major duel in big competitions, should eliminate the former double Olympic and world champions in order to reach the World Cup, you will recognize that The thought sounds unrealistic. A, who just found the expression for the selection that it was supposed to do without the main players? as always coach Dragan Đukić was maximally honest.
– Did Croatia deserve to win? Of course it is. We showed two people in this match, Croatia knew how to use it, to punish us and win, and convincing it. I honestly think that the difference in the end is too great, but the victory is completely deserved, the Serbian expert on the bench of Montenegro commented.
Difference in class
Montenegro failed to reach the 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017 Championships, and it is obvious that it will not be a participant or championship next year. This is also aware of the man who returned the handball euphoria to Montenegro, when the „lions“ of the total ambassador lifted, „woke up“ and took the European championship.
„The result at the moment speaks everything about our placement,“ Djukic added.
Even those who do not follow many handballs have a clear difference in class, but from the camp of Montenegro in the past few days there have been optimistic statements and expectations that the gym will be decided in Podgorica.
– The difference in class is not controversial. Of course, we thought that we could leave a better impression, that is, we could pursue them more. It was a plan, and if we played the whole match as the first 20 minutes, it would look quite different. But, both before and after this match, Croatia was a favorite Croatia has done everything to successfully pass this barrage and give us an example of how it should work, explained Djukic.
Passage impossible
Montenegro, in truth, opened the sword well. Egal match led to 22 minutes, and after the goal of Čavora for 10: 9 followed Croatia’s 5: 0 series, that already at the beginning of the second half home team will reach the double-digit difference …
– Let’s say that this first preparation was good. We can not say that we did not fight, but we were not specific, and Croatia knew that the penalties for each of our mistakes were emphasized by the Montenegrin selector.
Serie 7: 1 At the finish, Croatia managed to get a serious stock at half time (17:10), which at that time also indicated that Montenegro would experience a convincing defeat. Djukic, however, points out that there was no fear, and then reveals what it meant to players.
– Frankly, it was not easy, because after some mistakes, we easily allowed Croatia to go to 7 differences. But, at half-time, I told players that we are not guided by what is written in the traffic light, that we simply have to play. There was indeed a noticeable desire in us, and even an overwhelming desire that led us to errors. We did not have a concentration, especially a solution for the deep zone 5-1, which made a lot of problems for us. Just then, their goalkeepers were scattered, and then Croatia broke the match. We did not find solutions to the end. We had a little attack on the hips, as we agreed, there were some wings for the wings that were pretty unused and in the attack and in the finish line, so all the attempts went through the middle. Their defense was here the strongest, and there were a lot of technical errors. That’s exactly the result of light cash from Croatia. And all that, when the assembly comes to a defeat that is high and we are again in a situation like in some earlier qualifications that the passage is almost impossible now, it was analyzed by Djukic.
No offense
If it is known that Montenegro was without longtime captain Mijatovic, as well as another goalkeeper Simić, three bugs (Borozana, Lipovina and Petričević), but also injured Simović breed, it is clear that Montenegro had a weakened composition, for which Croatia , however, too much bit.
– This was the best team we could perform at this time. I know that everyone has done their best and nothing can be said of them. That’s why I want to thank really all the players who responded and who were there, doing their best, because you can not blame somebody if he did not play above his capabilities, even if he was below his capabilities. They were here, they really trained well … The fact is that when you have a short team, or a small player in a player like Montenegro, feel the absence of one, let alone more players. Croatia, if there is no Duvnjak, has other tricks, which also showed a match against us, Djukic said.
The fact that Montenegro will not be at the World Cup is no wonder, especially because of the fact that our opponent was our opponent. Osvajac medalje Slovenia also has a bad chance of being placed on the World Championship.
– I would not really compare ourselves with others. Slovenia has a very broad roster, a talented generation, great young players, invests a lot, has plans for a long period of time … And, as far as Croatia is concerned, it should give us an example and how it did this match, qualifications and what they are doing for good handball. Croatia would be a favorite against anyone because it is one of the four best selections in the world in the last 20 years. That’s exactly what should be our motive for a young man, to leave as much as possible an impression, and the fact is that a strong rival will show all your faults, as Dragan Djukic said.
Revans in Podgorica (Verde Hall) on June 14 will be only a formality, because it is clear that there is hardly any difference in handball, let alone the backwardness of 13 goals. However, Dragan Djukic has a goal for that match.
– I think this was a bad evening and that’s why we have to show that we can play more than it was in Osijek, or longer than 20 minutes. I think we have to find a motive to play back to a better level. The motive should be sought in the fact that we have never mastered Croatia, and so far the score is 0-5, and in this situation I want to overcome them. I hope that we will have the support from the stands and that now that we are free from the burden, which we have imposed on ourselves, we will play better, more content and more concrete. Simply, there should be a motive to at least win a selection like Croatia. What happened in Osijek is already past. I will ask my players to finally master them so that this cycle, or this episode, will end in a beautiful, not in a bad way, concluded Dragan Djukic.
