Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands, teams long considered absolute underdogs, will visit the “Falcons”. However, in recent years their quality has visibly improved, especially in the case of the Faroe Islands.

- Of course we’re aiming for six points. We believe we’re better and of higher quality than Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands, so with the right focus and approach to those matches we can start qualifying with six points. That would be very important for our confidence, for everything that awaits us later, and it would also be a nice continuation of that match against Türkiye last year. We always need to play with that kind of motivation and desire, said head coach Robert Prosinečki.

Montenegro will be without Stefan Savić and Risto Radunović for the opening two qualifiers due to injury. Some talented teenagers will also be absent as they head to the elite‑round tournament in Georgia, where they will try to qualify for the U19 European Championship.

- The talented players will be with the youth national team, fighting for a place at the European Championship. It’s a very talented generation, we expect a lot from them and many of them will probably be in the senior team in the near future. If they didn’t have those qualifiers, at least two players from that generation would definitely be with us today. But this was a planned decision – at this moment they’re more needed by the youth side. Also, in these two matches we won’t have Savić and Radunović, the others are mostly healthy and playing for their clubs, which is very important. With the squad we have, we believe we’ll take all six points, Prosinečki explained.

In this March international window, Montenegro will also find out whether they will meet Croatia or France in qualifying. Those two sides will play a two‑legged Nations League play‑off.

- Croatia and France are teams with huge pedigree, almost always in the latter stages of major tournaments. I slightly prefer Croatia as an opponent, but that doesn’t mean it would be any easier. It will be two very tight games between Croatia and France; maybe France have a slightly better chance. For years people have been writing Croatia off, not putting them among the favourites, and they always end up in the final stages, said Prosinečki.