MNE

Montenegro qualified for the fourth time for an IHF Women’s Youth World (U18) Championship, after ranking 11th in 2012, seventh in 2014 and recording their worst-ever placement at Poland 2018, where they finished the tournament in 17th place.

Led by a former superstar in Maja Savic, a European champion in 2012 and a silver medallist at the Olympic Games London 2012 with Montenegro, the young Montenegrin players will certainly learn a lot from her experience at the top level.

The plan looks certainly quite simple: build on Montenegro’s DNA, which brings a lot of grit and determination to the table, while also trying to impress in attack with the strength from back players like Mia Ražnatović and Jelena Vukčević, with the former being Montenegro’s top scorer at the W17 EHF EURO 2021 with 28 goals.

With an African side – Algeria – and two more European teams in the group, Sweden and Iceland, Montenegro’s fate will be definitely influenced by the results made against their European counterparts. Their eighth place at the W17 EHF EURO 2021, sealed by this current crop of players, will definitely give reasons for hope, at least for a top 10 finish at North Macedonia 2022.


Key players: Mia Ražnatović (left back), Lana Pavićević (left wing), Jelena Vukčević (right back)

Qualification for North Macedonia 2022: W17 EHF EURO 2021 – 8th place 

History in tournament: 2012: 11th, 2014: 7th, 2018: 17th 

Group at North Macedonia 2022: Group A (Montenegro, Sweden, Algeria, Iceland)