14.03.2013, 04:57
Spain is a thing of the past, Montenegro now look ahead

Four points from the two upcoming qualification matches against Israel would almost certainly grant Montenegro a place at EHF EURO 2014

Spain is a thing of the past, Montenegro now look ahead

Two months after Montenegro finished on a disappointing 22nd rank at the 2013 World Championship in Spain, the men's national team's head coach, Zoran Kastratović, announced a list of 19 players for the upcoming 2014 EHF EURO qualification games against Israel in the first week of April.

There are only smaller changes compared to the team that played at the World Championship, as line player Marko Pejović is missing because of a hand injury.

However, Kastratović did not nominate any new line players, putting his trust onto Mladen Rakčević from Metalurg and Nemanja Grbović.

"I think there is no need to call a third line player. With their quality and form, Rakčević and Grbović can carry out both matches," Kastratović added.

A new name on the list is Žarko Marković, right back of German side Frisch Auf Göppingen.

He was first nominated for the World Championship team but later excluded as he was not able to join his teammates for the training camping camp period prior to the tournament.

Still in the team is right wing Fahrudin Melić, who thought about retiring from international handball, but will now support his teammates until the end of the EHF EURO 2014 qualification matches.

"He will stay with us until the end of the qualification, then we will talk again and see," Kastratović said.

"He still thinks that long period of preparations separate him from his family, which he missed during the season in Slovenia.

"However, he’s a true professional and great athlete, a remarkable man and handball player, and I think in future he will be part of the national team."

Montenegro are currently on four points in Group 2 following an away win against Germany and a home win against Czech Republic.

However, they will have to play better than in Spain, when they recorded only one victory in seven games.

"The results in Spain are not to be brushed under the carpet, they certainly left the mark on the players and the coaching staff.

"However, in the analysis of the matches we are aware that, absolutely, no one outplayed us, except France in the second half.

"We were close to victory in three matches in the group stage. If we had been complete, with all our best players on deck, I believe the story would have been completely different," Kastratović said.

"Spain, however, is behind us. We are looking forward to two games against Israel. Victories in those two matches would potentially secure us a place at another big competition, depending on the results of matches between Germany and Czech Republic."

Two years ago, Montenegro played against Israel in the qualification for EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia and lost the away game by 29:24.

"At the time, Israel probably was more organised, wanted the victory more, considering that our team after a defeat against Slovakia had lost the chance to qualify for the EHF EURO.

"Now the circumstances are different, the atmosphere in the squad, logistics, support from the Montenegrin handball federation to our team are something which ensures that we will 100 per cent concentrated and strongly motivated," Kastratović concluded.

Montenegro squad for EHF 2014 EURO qualifications:

Goalkeepers: Rade Mijatović (HC Dinamo Minsk, Belarus), Marko Rajković (Valence handball, France), Nebojša Simić (H43 Lund, Sweden)

Left wings: Igor Marković (Lovćen), Petar Kapisoda (unattached)

Right wings: Fahrudin Melić (Gorenje Velenje, Slovenia), Marko Lasica (Pick Szeged, Hungary)

Line players: Mladen Rakčević (HC Metalurg, FYR Macedonia), Nemanja Grbović (Lovćen)

Left backs: Vladimir Osmajić (RK Cimos Koper, Slovenia), Vasko Ševaljević (HC Dinamo Minsk, Belarus), Goran Lasica (Lovćen)

Centre backs: Draško Mrvaljević (Bregenz Handball, Austria), Stevan Vujović (Lovćen), Mirko Milašević (Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto, Spain)

Right backs: Zoran Roganović (H43 Lund, Sweden), Žarko Marković (Frisch Auf Göppingen, Germany), Marko Simović (Al Ahli, Qatar), Ivan Perišić (Lovćen)

TEXT: Saša Jončić / ts