Montenegro aiming for handball final upset

Montenegro women’s Handball team have created history by guaranteeing their country’s first ever Olympic medal and they will be gunning for gold when they meet Norway in tomorrow’s final. The eastern Europeans were tipped as dark horses in the competition at the start of the Games but not expected to challenge in the gold medal match ahead of the likes of France, Spain and Russia. Yet France and Spain both found themselves defeated by Montenegro on their route to the final and the form of Bojana Popovic and Katarina Bulatovic has been key to their progression. With the Scandinavians the reigning Olympic, world and European champions, Montenegro still go into tomorrow night’s match as the underdog, but the fact they will definitely step onto the podium is enough for coach Dragan Adzic. ‘Norway are the favourites. They are the best team, the champions of everything and we will do everything to surprise them,’ he said. ‘We know what we have to do to beat them but we will keep it close to our chest. ‘To win a medal will mean everything to the people back home, it is an amazing success, we only have 600,000 people in our country. To be the first medal winners in the Olympics is historic, it’s amazing.’ It was a semi-final victory over Spain that earned them a place in the final and Popovic validated her title as one of the world’s best players with a fine performance. The 32-year-old is expected to retire after the Games and is delighted to be able to go out on such a stage. ‘My dream has come true as well as the rest of the girls. I can’t believe we are in the final!’ Popovic said. ‘This is a big day for Montenegro. I feel empty now, I have used so much energy, it feels like I am dreaming. ‘We need to beat Norway. It will be difficult as they are very good, but we can’t wait for the game and really it will be amazing.’