The Lithuanian national team started the match in an inspiring way – already in the first minute they attacked the goal defended by Cyprus and showed great intensity and ball control. However, even with a number of chances, the goal did not come.
Finally, in the 34th minute, the guests took the lead. Having torn apart the Lithuanian defense with excellent passes, the guests created a great opportunity for Ioannis Pitt, who sent the ball into the goal net from a few meters away.
The team coach Edgaras Jankauskas, who spoke at the press conference after the match, said that the team lacked both luck and accuracy in order to hit the ball into the goal in some situations.
“If the ball didn’t end up in the goal, it means we lacked accuracy. Somewhere there was a lack of luck, in one episode the players even messed with each other. However, in terms of the game, the first half was very good and the game was very similar to the one we played in Cyprus a year ago.
There, the goal was scored by the same person, from an almost identical situation, and the chances we created, of which I counted three or four before the tenth minute, were unfulfilled. We started the match very strongly, pressing the opponents high, creating chances and being dangerous, but we lacked accuracy or luck.
In the second half, the Cypriot team switched to a defensive game, and in turn we used almost all our resources in attack. We also had a great chance, when the opponents were saved from a goal only by the good work of the goalkeeper”, – the Lithuanian strategist described the match.
During the match, especially in the second half, there was a lot of fighting in the penalty area defended by the Cypriot team, after which most of our players appealed to the referee and wanted an 11-year penalty. penalties.
E. Jankauskas said that he did not see these situations, but he did not object to the rapid review system (VAR). The coach highlighted that despite the fact that there were no penalties, the Lithuanian national team deserved more than a defeat with their game today.
“I didn’t see those episodes, but if VAR decided it wasn’t… I haven’t watched it yet, but I think even without those situations we had a lot of chances today and deserved a little bit more. This is very disappointing because the men gave their all.
Both in terms of fighting and quality, I think it was a good match for us. Ironically, I said the same thing after the Cyprus match. It’s getting a bit dejavu”, said E. Jankauskas.
The match was supposed to take place at the Darius and Girėnas stadium in Kaunas, but due to the tragic state of the lawn, the match was moved to Marijampolė.
The next match for the national team is already on Monday, when the Lithuanians will meet Romanian footballers on the road. The match starts at 21:45.
– After Gwidus Gineičius dropped out of the lineup, you entrusted the standard situations to Artemijus Tutyškinas. Were you satisfied with the fulfillment of those situations today? – journalists asked E. Jankauskas.
– Yes, the passes were really good. After them we had two great chances. Artemijus has a good left foot and can pass the ball where needed. I think we had a very good substitute for Guido’s passes here.
– How did the missed goal look in your eyes?
– A very disappointing goal. We tried to enter from our goal with passes, what we want to see on the field. Opponents executed this situation expertly, everything happened with millimeter accuracy. A very similar goal to the one they scored in Cyprus.
It was an ungrateful moment when we dominated the pitch, controlled the game, everyone had the feeling that a goal was brewing. It happened as it happened. A very disappointing loss.
– This week there was a lot of talk about the lawn and its quality. What did you find in Marijampole?
– Great pitch, in the first half it perfectly met all standards. Maybe in the second half, the grass got a bit worn out, but the quality of the pitch can’t be faulted.
– Matas Vareika was not registered for this match. What is the reason for this?
– Linas Klimavičius was also not registered. We had 25 players and a roster of 23. That’s the only reason they didn’t make the list today.
– How badly was G. Gineiitis missing in the middle of the field?
– I think that the players who played in the middle, Giedrius Matulevičius, Modestas Vorobjovs, Vykintas Slivka, handled themselves well. Of course, there were mistakes and moments when we could have played better. Was Guido missing? Of course it was missing. With his dominance in the middle of the field, he can occupy a huge area by himself, due to his physical capabilities.
However, I think the men played well today, I have no complaints about the commitment of the whole team. Somewhere we were not lucky, somewhere we were late to give a pass, but unfortunately this is an integral part of football. The opponents managed to exploit them, we are the losers today and we are very sad about that.
– How strange was it to drive from Kaunas to Marijampolė today and how much preparation did that question have for the whole time?
– I really wanted to get rid of this issue as soon as possible. We came to another city, we had a big party, we had great support. Of course, it may not be a common situation, but we have become participants in such circumstances.
We have to thank Marijampole for the good support and the good pitch. And about the logistics… Probably both we and the fans had to drive a bit longer and get stuck in traffic jams. However, we are very grateful to the fans who came and we felt their support.
– In this match, the goal was to score a goal and win, and the forward position was entrusted to Armandas Kučius. How do you rate his performance today?
– Scoring a goal was the only thing Armand couldn’t do. He won a lot of aerial duels, received balls, withstood pressure from defenders. He remained active until the end of the match. All the guys gave their best, including Armand. This is the most disappointing, because it seems that you gave your all, the opponent was not better, and the result is this.
– Looking ahead, you will have a window again in October. Maybe you are planning to play in Marijampolė again, because the quality of the pitch seems to be better here than in Kaunas?
– Everything is possible, although we were told that the grass of the Darius and Girėnas stadium is a matter of a few days. Next game in a month and I think the grass will grow back in that time. Everything should be fine, because there is a person working there who knows what he is doing with the lawn.
It has already become our home stadium and it is a stadium that is dignified, more suitable for representing the country’s football. However, as option B, Marijampolė really did everything well.
2024-09-07 06:45:38