The Montenegro women’s national football team is set to face a significant challenge today at 17:30 GMT as they visit Wales for the second match in Group B1 of the UEFA Nations League. Under the guidance of coach Mirko Marić, the Montenegrin squad is preparing to take on a team that has consistently qualified for European Championships and is viewed as the frontrunner in the group.
Following a disappointing debut in the tournament, Montenegro suffered a 2:1 loss to Albania in Nikšić, a result that left the players feeling frustrated. “Wales is a much stronger team than Albania, there is no doubt about it,” said Marić. “They have a lot of strong matches behind them, filled with experience and quality. It is up to us to prepare and provide as strong a resistance as possible.”
The defeat against Albania marked a missed opportunity for Montenegro to secure points in a higher tier of European football. Jasna Đokić, a key player for the team, expressed her dismay at the outcome. “We expected a tough match, and nothing Albania did surprised us. I firmly believe we are the better team, even though the score tells a different story. I regret that we did not capitalize on our chances and earn points. We deserved more; we gave our maximum, but it wasn’t enough.”
Marić echoed Đokić’s sentiments, reflecting on the team’s potential. “We did not deserve to lose; we were closer to winning and were the better team. It concerns me that we tend to retreat after taking the lead, as if we become fearful. We must change that mindset. In any case, details decided the match against Albania, as we anticipated, and it is our responsibility to learn another lesson.”
Montenegro’s encounter with Albania serves as a vital learning experience in their development, with another test looming against Wales, a team aiming to return to elite status. “It will be extremely difficult; the Welsh team has competed in the European Championship and is the favorite. We will give everything we have and fight as we always do,” emphasized Đokić.
As the match approaches, the Montenegrin squad is determined to improve upon their previous performance and make a statement in the UEFA Nations League. The outcome against Wales, regardless of the score, will be another critical step in their journey.
The match schedule includes:
– 16:30 GMT – Wales vs. Montenegro
– 18:00 GMT – Czech Republic vs. Albania
