21.03.2014, 12:20
Only four points count for Slovenia

PREVIEW: Head coach Marta Bon meets the team she was in charge of previously, when her current squad, Slovenia, face Switzerland in the Women's EHF EURO 2014 Qualification

Only four points count for Slovenia

When Slovenia took to the court in October for Round 2 of the Women's EHF EURO 2014 Qualification, they were the underdogs against Serbia, the same Serbia that later played in the final of the World Championship 2013.

But Slovenia won 31:26 in that 'match of the generation' and blew Group 5 wide open.

Two consecutive matches against Switzerland (on 27 March in Stäfa, SUI and on 30 March in Ljubljana, SLO) are now on the menu and Slovenia for once is regarded as the favourites. It's a role that head coach Marta Bon is totally comfortable with. 

"Our objective are two victories, that is very clear and it is also clear that we have to assume the position of the favourites.

"But that doesn't mean we can relax. Just look what happened to Serbia," says Bon, who knows the Swiss women well - she was their coach not so long ago, after all.

Bon is very happy with the campaign so far. Apart form the victory against Serbia she also regards the away loss to Sweden (25:30) as a good performance.

"We only had two serious practices together before and regardless we achieved a positive result at Helsingborg."

"Switzerland have a good team, and their defining characteristic is relentlessness. I expect there will be an additional dose of motivation, since some of them were not too happy when I left. But, such is life.

"Our main objective is to prepare well for the two matches and to get all four points."

There are still some doubts about the fitness of the excellent right-back Barbara Lazović-Varlec and the goalie Miša Marinček.

There will be two names missing this time around though. Neza Mitrusevska and Katja Cerenjak are not in the roster for business and personal reasons respectively.

That fact opened the possibily for the 19-year old left winger Pia Ugrin to nab her first cap for the national team.

Slovenia squad for the matches against Switzerland:

Goalkeepers: Sergeja Stefanisin (Krim Mercator), Miša Marincek (Krim Mercator), Branka Zec (Vulkan, GER).

Backs: Teja Ferforlja (Gen-I Zagorje),  Ana Gros (Metz, FRA), Lara Hrncic (Veplas Velenje), Alja Jankovic (Celje Celjske mesnine), Nina Jericek (Nimes, FRA), Lina Krhlikar (Celles-sur-Belle, FRA), Barbara Lazovic-Varlec (Krim Mercator), Ana Petrinja (Cetate DevaTrans, ROM), Maja Son (Nimes, FRA)

Wings: Neli Irman (Gen-I Zagorje), Alja Koren (ÉTV-Érdi, HUN), Tamara Mavsar (Krim Mercator), Urška Vidic (Krka), Maja Zrnec (Krim Mercator), Pia Ugrin (Gen-I Zagorje)

Line players: Sanja Gregorc (Gen-I Zagorje), Maxim Eva Pelikan (Celje Celjske mesnine)

TEXT: Grega Sever / ts