WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
The match to be played in two days in Plzen (8:45 p.m.) will show what the Montenegrin national football team is capable of and how close or far it is to making a surprise in the fight for the World Cup.
The away game against the Czech Republic is the biggest challenge for the "falcons" in the mandate of Robert Prosinečki, although in the previous year and a half they had Belgium, Georgia, Wales, Turkey as their rivals...
The victory over the Turks is also the biggest for our national team in recent times, but it was won at a time when the chances of survival in the League of Nations were already lost, and on a bad pitch in Nikšić, where a real balance of power could not be seen.
The duel with the Czechs is the most difficult because it is about the World Cup qualifiers, of course - incomparably more important than friendlies and matches in the League of Nations.
- A point would be of great importance to us because we are playing against a very serious national team away, and the Czechs will certainly want to show from the start that they want to win. It will not be easy at all, but we are in a good situation, we have ended the March matches positively and we will try to continue in that direction even though we have duels with very strong teams waiting for us - said Marko Janković before today's training at the FSCG Camp, the last before going to Plzeň.
Some Czech footballers, like the experienced Vladimir Coufal, have to look for new clubs this summer, and they are under more public pressure than the Big Yellows' players.
- These are very high-quality players, they may have a dose of pressure, but that doesn't bother them at all. We can't look for an advantage there, we can only gain it through good play, fight and tactics. We all change clubs at some point, it's a little unpleasant when you're waiting, but it's much easier for them than for us - said Janković.
Montenegro and the Czech Republic have six points each after the duel with Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands in March. Ivan Hašek's team played in a slightly different system in those duels than at Euro 2024.
- We watched their previous matches, but we don't think too much about which formation they will take to the field. We are focused on how we should play, but definitely that the Czechs can play in more formations and there is no point in preparing especially for one type of game. At any moment they can change the system and we have to react at a given moment. The most important thing is that we prepare well, to implement what we have been working on. It will be an interesting match – the Qarabag midfielder is convinced.
His teammates have been saying in recent days that Montenegro's advantage is in the midfield, where Janković plays a key role.
- Thank them for that – Janković joked.
- Only if we play as a team do we have a chance for a significant result. It doesn't matter who plays, whoever is on the field is aware of what this match brings us and will certainly give their maximum – assessed the 29-year-old from Cetinje.
Almost all of the Czechs' actions go to Patrik Sik, a strong striker for Bayer Leverkusen.
- They are a very solid and concrete team. In my opinion, they are most dangerous when the ball comes from the flank or from a set piece. They have height, they are robust, they have a certain quality in every segment of the game – stated Janković.
However, the "Falcons", are going to Plzeň with great optimism. It's easy to see that the atmosphere is great.
- We also talked among ourselves that there is a very positive energy, I hope that this will be reflected in the game - concluded Marko Janković.
