The "Lionesses" have practically already secured their place in the championship, for the ninth time in a row, but there is no shortage of motivation.
Suzana Lazović's team wants to finish the qualifications as well as possible, in order to be in a better position for the draw for the European Championship.
They are currently the group leader with six points, while Portugal and the Faroe Islands have four each, and Iceland two.
In the first mutual duel, played in October last year, Montenegro won convincingly – 29:22.
"We have chosen to qualify for the European Championship, but we will be fully focused in the last two matches in the qualifiers. I am glad that many young players have been given a chance and I believe that we will use it in the right way," said the "lion", Nikolina Marković.
Montenegro is the favorite against Portugal and the Faroe Islands, but caution is still present.
"We are favorites in both matches, we have experience playing against these rivals, especially against Portugal, we will do our best to finish these qualifiers with two wins," Marković emphasized.
A special focus in the final round of the qualifiers is on younger players, who are increasingly getting a chance in the A selection. One of them is Anđelina Orbović, who, after good performances at the club level, earned a call-up to the national team.
"It is a great honor for me to train with the A national team. I believe that this is a reward for all the effort and work in previous years. I am grateful to the head coach and the coaching staff for the opportunity, which I see as a great motivation to continue at this pace and to stay in the national team," said Orbović.
The young handball player is also hoping to make her debut.
"We did a great job, we need to take these two games as seriously as possible, but also as an opportunity for us younger players to take their first steps in the national team," she added, revealing that her role model is Đurđina Jauković.
After a two-year break, goalkeeper Anastasija Babović has returned to the "lionesses", and she says that she is not relaxing despite securing a place.
"I've been away for two years, but I want to prove myself and continue to be there. I expect that in the last two matches we play as if we haven't finished the job. We want to play bravely and smartly, because every point is important to us because of the draw," said Babović.
Today's match in Portugal will be a continuation of the process of rejuvenating the national team, especially after Itana Grbić and Ivona Pavicevic decided to end their national team careers a few days ago.
Montenegro will close the qualifiers on Sunday, when they will host the Faroe Islands in Podgorica.
