08.09.2025. 10:45h
From the special reporter “Vijesti”
Over 20 thousand spectators, in sold-out parts of Maksimir, where the eastern stand is not in function after the 2020 earthquake, and where the entire south is intended for several hundred of our fans, will welcome Montenegrin football players tonight as they play the toughest (or easiest), more precisely – the most sensational match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Croatia.
Robert Prosinecki, the Montenegrin “selector”, was interesting to everyone upon his arrival in Zagreb: both customs officers at the airport, ordinary passers-by, and of course the Croatian media.
“Good luck Robi, but not this time.”
Luka Modrić, a legend of world football, talked about Montenegro as a national team that “always had good football players”, about Madrid’s ties with Stefan Savić, about the relationship with Stevan Jovetić, about his 40th birthday, which he will celebrate tomorrow – the day after the game.
– Will I still be here at 41? I didn’t think about it, I’m taking it one day at a time.
Zlatko Dalic, the Croatian “selector”, remembered the Titograd days and the Budućnost jersey, saying that he shared the locker room with top football players – from Peđo Mijatović, across Branko Brnović i Zeljko Petrovic, from Count Božović i Sasa Petrovic, also points out that he almost came to the centennial celebration (the way it went, it’s better that he didn’t).
Inside, in the corridors of Maksimir, a dilapidated building that has been awaiting demolition and construction of a new, magnificent building for years, is a huge painting from some distant time: Cico Kranjcar, former coach of Croatia and Montenegro, flies through the air in front of 50 thousand fans and scores the winning goal against Budućnost: Nino Jovanovic, Žarko Vukčević i Zoja Vorotović They watch helplessly, from the background. The year is 1982 and Dinamo’s last title in the former Yugoslavia.
A colleague from Jutarnji List was putting together a story about “three Zagreb paintings” Dejan Savićević, president of the Football Association of Montenegro, where the first two are related to the national team of the former Yugoslavia, eternal quarrels with Ivica Osim, almost leaving the national team (1989, the Yugoslavia – Scotland match and 1990, preparations in Zagreb ahead of the World Cup in Italy). The third image is related to the “purger” episode from 1999.
In the meantime, and Stevan jovetić, the current Montenegrin ace, dropped into the stadium press room, talked about his friendships with Croatian players (Perisic, Kovačić, Brozovic at Inter, Subašić in Monaco) but also about his dream of playing in a major competition with the national team, which he would “trade for all the trophies in his clubs”.
– As long as I play, I won’t give up.
There are many beautiful Zagreb stories and intrigues, connections from the past and present, that announce tonight’s spectacle, it’s a shame that one important detail is missing – the Montenegrin national team’s points balance, which after a two-match series with the Czech Republic and two defeats is too meager to experience the regional derby as it could have been.
This lack of pressure for results and the desire to persevere in the fight for second place should not diminish the experience and energy of the Montenegrin football players, because, regardless of everything, it is very important what impression they will leave against the third-placed team in the world from the previous World Cup.
Croatia – Montenegro, tonight at 20.45:XNUMX PM, in front of a sold-out Dinamo stadium, with a referee Felix Cvajer from Germany. The second match of Group L will also feature Faroe Islands – Gibraltar, teams to which Montenegro, after two losses to the Czech Republic, is unfortunately closer than Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Could a miracle happen and things change in Maksimir Forest?
Prosinecki in Zagreb: We will not be afraid of a full stadium and a strong Croatia
Robert Prosinečki on Maksimir – a well-known environment.
– A specific feeling, I started here, at the age of 10, at Dinamo. Zagreb is my city, I live here. It’s a nice feeling, I hope it will be even nicer after the game, no matter how much the Croatians are the favorites.
After their defeat to the Czech Republic, Montenegro does not have much chance of joining the World Cup, especially since they have two matches against Croatia, a difficult trip to the Faroe Islands and an away game against Gibraltar, but that does not change the approach before the match at Maksimir.
– As long as there is any chance, we hope, we believe, but that it will be difficult – without further ado. We are coming to Zagreb at an inconvenient time, after the defeat against the Czech Republic, where we were very close. We want to give our maximum, to present ourselves in a good light, to play a good match.
Croatia – strong as a country.
– We know who Croatia is, especially me, a team that has been achieving great results in the biggest competitions for years. It’s a cult of a team that loves each other, where everyone always gives their maximum. They want those three points that would already qualify them, but we will try to surprise them.
– There will be a lot of spectators, Croatia will have a 12th player, but we want to show ourselves. I don’t think we will be scared, even though there will be young players on the team, but they are all used to playing in such an environment at their clubs.
Prosinecki did not dictate the lineup this time, but only because three players (Savić, Roganović, Brnović) are feeling the effects of the virus or the strain from the match against the Czech Republic.
However, everyone has completed training, so Montenegro could start with this lineup: Petković – Roganović, Savić, Vujačić, Andrija Vukčević – Kuč, Bulatović – Adžić, Jovetić, Vukotic – Krstović.
Jovetić: Fans left at the worst moment
Captain Stevan Jovetić admitted that the team’s most ardent fans left the stands “at the worst possible moment” during the match with the Czech Republic.
Fans from the north boycotted cheering after half an hour of play due to a disagreement with the leaders of the Football Association regarding the trip to Zagreb.
– Honestly, it was the worst moment, at the worst possible time. It was our most important match in the qualifiers, a win would have put us back in the game. I think things like that are resolved after the match.
It was difficult against the Czech Republic, it will be even more difficult against Croatia.
– We are emotionally drained after the Czechs. If we had won, we would have been here again. But, what is there is there. Maybe it is good that we are playing so quickly, so that we forget about that match. Croatia is a complete team and I would not single anyone out – it has been at the very top for years, once it was second and once it was third at the World Cup. We expect Croatia to be at its best, I believe this will be a great match, so let the better team win – stressed Jovetić.
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