ince its formation in 2006, after obtaining its independence, Montenegro have been present at three editions of the Olympic Games – London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. The European side’s best performance was the silver medal 12 years ago, when they lost the big final against Norway.

Since that moment, Montenegro have taken a step back, registering only two wins from 11 matches at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, finishing 11th and sixth respectively, as the golden generation has slowly let way to other players, with Bojana Popovic, Jovanka Radicevic or Majda Mehmedovic retiring.

Popovic has assumed the position of head coach since 2021 and Montenegro still maintained their good results, with a bronze medal at the EHF EURO 2022 and a seventh place at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, with the latter result sealed even without key centre back Milena Raicevic, who is poised to miss the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Neu-Ulm.

Still, Montenegro have a tough and experienced squad – a defence-first mentality, which is always bringing more to the table – which is always performing well and delivering fantastic performances thanks to their spirit and mentality, always the most important weapons in the team’’s arsenal.

Another key player missing will be left back Djurdjina Jaukovic, who also missed out at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship due to injury, when Montenegro also secured the seventh place, making the quarter-finals with some excellent performances, with losses against Croatia and Sweden balancing the end product.

Nevertheless, Popovic’s side will be buoyed by the debut of goalkeeper Armel Attingre, who has obtained the Montenegrin citizenship and will feature for the first time for Montenegro, as she had an excellent form for Buducnost in the EHF Champions League Women.

Yet Montenegro will have their work cut out here, with two matches against tough European opponents, and one against Paraguay, which they won against in December, at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, 41:26.

Against Germany, Montenegro have won three of the four matches played in history, 25:24 at the 2011 IHF Women’s World Championship, 27:20 at the EHF EURO 2014 and 29:25 more recently, at the EHF EURO 2022. The only Germany win came at the EHF EURO 2012, 27:20, but this match will surely be decisive.

As will the match against Slovenia, an opponent which Montenegro played very well against in their head-to-head encounters. Six of the seven matches were won by Popovic’s side, including the last two, 33:28 and 34:30 in the EHF EURO 2022 Qualifiers, but Slovenia took a 28:18 win at the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship.

Key players: Itana Grbic (centre back), Matea Pletikosic (centre back), Tatjana Brnovic (line player)

History at the Olympic Games: 2012: Silver medal, 2016: 11th, 2020: 6th

Olympic Qualification Tournament #3 (in Neu-Ulm, Germany): Germany, Montenegro, Slovenia, Paraguay