Cyprus Vs Montenegro will close Montenegro’s Nations League Division C campaign in Limassol at 15 p.m., and Mirko Vučinić goes into the game with his squad already stretched by injuries and suspension. The coach has been forced to keep adjusting his plans through September and October, and the latest selection for this final match reflects how much disruption has hit the group.
During September and October, Vučinić used many players because of fatigue. After that period, Adam Marušić was injured, followed by Milan Roganović and Marko Vesovic, and then Andrija Bulatović. Against Latvia, Stefan Savić received a red card, while Bulatović covered that position, leaving Montenegro with another defensive problem to solve before they face Cyprus in Limassol.
How Montenegro’s defence has been reshaped
The biggest issue is not just the number of absences, but where they are happening. Montenegro have been forced to rethink their back line repeatedly, and that usually has a knock-on effect on balance elsewhere in the team. When injuries and a suspension hit the same area, the coach is no longer choosing from strength; he is trying to build a unit from what remains available.
That matters even more in a final Nations League fixture, where there is little time to bed in new combinations. Vučinić must decide whether to keep the structure simple or ask players to cover unfamiliar roles again. Either way, the test is clear: Montenegro need a defence that can stay organised despite the changes around it.
Who can step up in Limassol?
There is still a positive note for Montenegro. Stevan Jovetić is ready to play in the stadium where he features with AEL, and that gives the team an experienced attacking option as they look to finish the campaign on a stronger note. In games shaped by absences, having a player who understands the occasion and the setting can make a real difference.
The broader question is whether Montenegro can turn this into a controlled performance rather than a survival exercise. The squad changes are real, but so is the opportunity to show they can cope with them. For Vučinić, the final Nations League match is less about perfect preparation and more about finding enough stability to compete in Limassol.
