Montenegro believe in experience to lead them to Sweden

Montenegro need just one more victory from their last two Women’s EHF EURO 2016 Qualification Games to qualify for the final tournament in Sweden this December.

They first play FYR Macedonia away on 2 June, then they play at home against Slovenia on 5 June. If they qualify it will mark the ninth consecutive participation at a major tournament – EHF EURO events, World Championships, Olympic Games (including the 2016 Games in Rio) – for the team of head coach Dragan Adzic.

“Together with Norway, Spain and France, we are one of only four European teams who played at all of the past eight major tournaments. And all four almost certainly will play the ninth one (the EHF EURO 2016). That says a lot about the continuity of our results,” Adzic said.

Montenegro are currently ranked second in Group 4 with six points. First ranked Croatia have six points as well but should they end up level on points at the end of the qualification as well, Montenegro would be ahead as they have won the direct encounter.

Montenegro have also won the respective first legs against FYR Macedonia (21:14) and Slovenia (22:20) back in October, indicating that the EHF EURO 2012 champions should also be the favourites in the two upcoming matches.

“It’s always difficult to play in June, but we have enough experience and I believe that we will qualify for Women’s EHF EURO 2016. The good thing is that our players from Buducnost and Vardar had a chance to rest after the EHF FINAL4 in Budapest,” Adzic said.

There are no surprises on Adzic’s list of nominated players for the final two qualifiers. Team captain Marija Jovanovic is still out due to the left knee injury she sustained in February. “The recovery is going well, Marija will do everything to be ready for Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,” Adzic said.

Furthermore, goalkeeper Alma Hasanic is not on the list. But she will not only miss the EHF EURO Qualification, but also the Olympic Games. Albeit the reason is a happy one: She is pregnant.

“We are sorry that Alma will miss Brazil because it would have been her first Olympic Games but at the same time we are happy for her and we wish her all the best during the pregnancy,” said Adzic.

Line player Suzana Lazovic is back in the team, but not yet 100 per cent, and same holds true for right wing Dijana Ujkic. Both can only join certain segments of the training.

“Since the Olympic Games will be played with some new rules, we cannot use the games against FYR Macedonia and Slovenia to get prepared in that sense. But, every training and every game is important for us,” Montenegro’s coach concluded.

Montenegro’s squad for the Women’s EHF EURO 2016 Qualification matches against FYR Macedonia and Slovenia

Goalkeepers: Sonja Barjaktarovic (Kastamonu Belediyesi Spor KLB, TUR), Marina Rajcic (Metz, FRA), Ljubica Nenezic (Buducnost, MNE)

Wingers: Majda Mehmedovic (Buducnost, MNE), Biljana Pavicevic (Buducnost, MNE), Ivona Pavicevic (Buducnost, MNE), Radmila Petrovic (Buducnost, MNE), Jovanka Radicevic (Vardar, MKD), Dijana Ujkic (Buducnost, MNE)

Line players: Suzana Lazovic (Buducnost, MNE), Ema Ramusovic (Buducnost, MNE), Bobana Klikovac (Debreceni VSC, HUN)

Back court: Milena Raicevic (Buducnost, MNE), Katarina Bulatovic (Buducnost, MNE), Djurdjina Jaukovic (Buducnost, MNE), Andrea Klikovac (Vardar, MKD), Andjela Bulatovic (Erd HC, HUN), Jelena Despotovic (Debreceni VSC, HUN), Itana Grbic (Vardar, MKD), Djurdjina Malovic (Buducnost, MNE), Vanesa Agovic (Buducnost, MNE)