The first of two June friendly matches for the Montenegrin national football team was a success. The “Brave Falcons” won 1:0 away to Bulgaria in Plovdiv.
Balša Sekulić scored the decisive goal in the 68th minute. This was only the fourth appearance for the Mornar striker in the national team. After the match, he admitted that he did not expect his debut to come so soon.
“I’m a little surprised, honestly. I didn’t expect to score a goal in my fourth appearance. I’m really happy and I think this is the biggest award for my entire season, which is already behind us. I think this is the best and most beautiful award,” said Sekulić.
photo: FSCG
A good action preceded the goal, and his reaction was also excellent.
“Well, it is. Those are some of the situations I like the most. That quick reception and immediate shot, as it happened. I received it quickly, reacted and the ball ended up in the net,” the 27-year-old striker pointed out.
The Montenegrin national team needs victories the most at this moment when, after a poor World Cup qualification, the “falcons” are being sought again.
“This can certainly lift us up and we need victories. Whoever and whoever you play against, when you win, you fill yourself with confidence and it will certainly be important for us in the next games.”
He has the opportunity to work and learn from Mirko Vučinić, a former striker for clubs such as Juventus and Roma. Balša admitted that it is not easy to follow all the coach’s ideas, but that he is trying to learn.
“I can learn a lot, I try to listen to his every word, to absorb what he says and to convey it to the field as best I can. It’s not easy to do everything like him, everything comes a lot easier for him, but we try, we try to learn and adopt it.”
The goal for the national team came as the crowning glory of a great club season that Sekulić had. He scored 15 goals in the Meridianbet 1. CFL, finishing as the top scorer, and also led the Mornar trophy in the Montenegrin Cup.
“It really was a dream season, although it may not have started out well. We struggled at the beginning of the season and were at the bottom of the table for a long time, but in the end we pushed through it all and I’m really happy,” concluded Sekulić.
photo: FSCG
Our team’s midfielder, Marko Janković, pointed out that he is happy that the team is slowly adopting some new things.
“I’m optimistic and I’m really happy that we’re slowly adopting these new things and I hope that it will be even better in the coming period,” said the Qarabag first team player.
Marko is aware that there is a difference between friendly and competitive matches.
“It definitely exists, especially when it’s the June deadline, in my experience, whoever has more desire and motivation usually gets a better result.”
The second match in this cycle, the “brave falcons” play against Slovakia in Košice (June 5, 6:30 PM). It’s not easy to find motivation after exhausting seasons, but the victory in Bulgaria has infused positive energy into the Montenegrin ranks.
“Nobody asks us, we simply have to. It’s good that we achieved a positive result. Because of the self-confidence and positive energy that should sustain us and give us wings to gather strength for Slovakia. I hope we will enter full of positive energy and eager to prove ourselves and end the year on a good note,” said Janković.
photo: FSCG
Milan Roganović played his best game for the senior national team of Montenegro. He commanded the right wing. After the match, he emphasized that the coach’s requirements were met and that the most important wish was for all the players who got a chance.
“It was a very demanding game. What we have been working on over the past week, we showed on the field. We fulfilled the coach’s demands, but the most important thing is that we all had the desire. Both the players who started and those who came off the bench. We had the desire literally 100 percent and that led to a positive result,” said the Partizan right-back.
Although he is aware that he played well, Roganović has no doubt that he can always do better.
“I’m satisfied, especially because the victory came from a good game, but I think it can always be better.”
The “Falcons” now have a few days to prepare for the clash with the Slovaks, which should be, at least on paper, an even bigger challenge.
“We will prepare step by step, Slovakia awaits us, perhaps a more unpleasant opponent than Bulgaria. We will prepare in these few days and try to get the most out of it and come out with a victory. That brings positive energy, that’s what we need at the moment,” Roganović underlined.
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
News
