Montenegro’s Handball Team Secures Spot at Euro 2024 Championship

Montenegro’s handball team has qualified for the upcoming European Championship, marking a significant achievement for the young athletes. Following a challenging start in the qualification tournament held in Slovakia, head coach Vuk Kaluđerović expressed optimism about their journey ahead.

The qualification tournament began with a disappointing defeat for Montenegro, who were overwhelmed by the host nation, Slovakia, with a score of 41-22. Kaluđerović reflected on the match, stating, “We entered the game with great desire, but it was catastrophic. Our eagerness led to a series of technical errors and missed scoring opportunities. Slovakia capitalized on this quickly and effectively.”

Despite the initial setback, Montenegro’s resolve was evident in their subsequent matches. Just a day after their heavy loss, the team faced Ukraine and emerged victorious with a score of 31-26. Kaluđerović noted, “We remained calm and recognized that every team can have a bad day, as we did against Slovakia. We focused on the Ukraine match and executed our game plan effectively, which gave us a boost for the final round.”

Montenegro continued their strong performance, defeating the Netherlands 24-23 in a closely contested game. The team held a lead of 17-12 at halftime but faced challenges in the final quarter. Kaluđerović admitted, “I took risks by keeping a consistent lineup. We were concerned about one of our key players, Danilo Gutić, potentially receiving a third exclusion. Despite a series of missed chances, we managed to control the game until the final minutes.”

With this victory, Montenegro secured one of the coveted spots for the European Handball Championship, set to take place in Serbia from July 29 to August 9, 2024. The tournament will feature ten teams, including the Czech Republic, Finland, Israel, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Switzerland, and Turkey. Host nation Serbia will also participate, along with previously qualified teams such as Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, the Faroe Islands, France, Slovenia, and Norway.

Kaluđerović emphasized the importance of competing at a higher level: “In any sport, when you compete against the best, it drives you to improve. Our goal is to rise to the elite ranks and prove ourselves in that environment. We have a small talent pool, but all coaches and sports workers in the youth categories are dedicated and willing to make sacrifices to produce new talent for the senior team.”

The current generation of players born in 2008 and later has propelled Montenegro back into the highest tier of European handball in the Under-18 competition. The primary objective at the European Championship will be to maintain their position within this elite category.

Kaluđerović concluded, “I’m not thinking too far ahead at this moment. I always set high goals and wish to compete against everyone. It’s true that teams like ours, which are on the edge, primarily aim to secure their place among the elite. We will strive to enhance our gameplay while carefully analyzing our opponents to achieve something greater.”