The “Brave Falcons” are favourites in the games against Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands, but they have to prove that on the pitch at the City Stadium in Nikšić.

- We have a favourable schedule, the first two matches we play at home against weaker opponents. I think we’re a much higher‑quality national team than both rivals and, with maximum focus, we should beat both Gibraltar and the Faroes. Only a return of six points would satisfy us and we’ll do everything to achieve that, Marko Vukčević said at today’s media briefing.

The right‑back of the “Falcons” reflected on the first match, against Gibraltar.

- We played them in 2021, we won 4–1 at home and 3–0 away. They play, so to speak, football without pressure and, as I said, I think we’re better. We’re at home and we expect to justify the role of favourites. On the other hand, the most dangerous games are often those where the points are written down in advance. Nowadays everyone plays football and improves, and that’s how it should be, but we have enough experience and quality to get the only result that suits us – three points, stressed the defender of Kazakhstan’s Tobol.

The “Falcons” are coming off a year in which they suffered a run of seven consecutive defeats, which was broken in the last match of 2024 with a win over Türkiye.

- We learned a lot from the Nations League. We’d never had such a losing streak before, and many expected us to continue it against Türkiye. However, we played an excellent match, were very well prepared, and won when no one expected it. That showed us that we can play against anyone, especially in front of our fans. We have a quality team and we have every reason to be optimistic, Vukčević concluded.