Podgorica, Montenegro, July 10, 2014.  The men’s national team of Montenegro hopes to exceed its initial goal for the 2014 CEV Volleyball European League - Men and, after making it to the semifinals, to go one step further and qualify for the final.  To achieve this, the Montenegrins know they have to overcome a tough opponent, the experienced squad of FYR of Macedonia.

“For sure we will face a very difficult and uncertain semifinal against Macedonia because it is a team made up of experienced players, from which a few players are key players in their clubs, especially Jovica Simovski and Nikola Gjorgiev.  I think their team’s performance will largely depend on the performance of these two players.  As for us, we have fulfilled our goal mapped out before the start of the European League, which was a place in the semifinals.  But we have great motivation and desire to play better and to get to the final, which would be a great result and reward for three months of very hard work,” said Aleksandar Minic, opposite of Montenegrin team.

“It will be a very tough game with a very difficult opponent.  Macedonia is a strong and experienced team having played in the same composition for several years.  We are very motivated and want to play in the final of the European league.  It will be a great fight, but for this we have been very prepared and coached for the last three months, so I hope that we will be able to achieve the goal and get into the final," added Ivan Jecmenica.

The first match of the semifinals is scheduled for today, Thursday, July 10, at 20:00 in Skopje, and the return leg will be played in Budva on Wednesday, July 16, at 20:00 local time.  Both games are scheduled for live streaming on LAOLA1.tv.

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