Serbia Women's Handball Team Plays Russia in Stara Pazova
Serbia's women's national team trains at the Football Association of Serbia sports center until October 24 and plays two friendlies against Russia, both closed to the public.
The Football Association of Serbia sports center in Stara Pazova belongs to the handball players these days. Serbia’s women’s national team has been training there since October 16 and stays until October 24, as part of the EHF national team week. Alongside the training sessions, the schedule includes two friendlies against Russia, both closed to the public.
What is known about the games against Russia?
The Handball Federation of Serbia says on its website that both games will be played behind closed doors. Dates and kickoff times have not been announced, so it is not known when they will take place. The federation describes them as a chance for the coaching staff to check the players’ current form and sharpen the team’s cohesion. The head coach is Sandra Kolakovic, according to Novosti.
What awaits them at the European Championship?
Novosti reports that the European Championship runs from December 3 to 20, with Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Turkey as hosts. The federation says only that the tournament starts on December 3.
Serbia plays in Group F in Bratislava, with this schedule:
- December 4: Slovakia
- December 6: Germany
- December 8: Sweden
The top two teams in the group advance to the next stage. Slovakia is also a host nation, and Serbia opens the tournament against them.
What do the players say?
Novosti describes the squad as rejuvenated, and Lara Stanic confirms it. She told the Handball Federation of Serbia’s website:
“We are all together, we are training hard, we have two warm-up games, and I hope we can show what we are capable of and prepare as well as possible for what awaits us. The team is quite young, inexperienced, and all of us are eager to prove ourselves. I hope that will bring us some new energy. The atmosphere is excellent, all the girls get along and everyone is giving her maximum.”
On the group opponents, Stanic added:
“We are playing Slovakia, Germany and Sweden. Slovakia is the host, and it is never easy to play against the host. They are players with much more experience, who play in Europe, but that does not mean we will not give our maximum.”
Tijana Simic also spoke about the preparations, again for the federation’s website:
“The preparations are going great. I am very glad to be here and I believe I will live up to expectations. We are getting ready for the warm-up games against Russia, and of course for the European Championship. We are working hard and trying our best. Our team is quite mixed, with both young and more experienced players, but with good work and the trust we have in one another, I think we can do great things.”
The camp in Stara Pazova lasts until October 24, and the first test at the tournament itself comes on December 4 in Bratislava, against Slovakia.
