Lithuania concluded their League of Nations cycle with a disappointing defeat, losing 0:1 away to Kosovo in their final match. As a result, Lithuania will be relegated from Division C and will compete in Division D in the 2026 season.
Following the match, the players voiced their disappointment about the cycle but emphasized that the results do not accurately reflect their performance on the field. “We put in a lot of effort and played well. We were close to earning our first points, but it felt like everything was against us, and we kept coming up short. There’s nothing we can do about it now; we need to keep working,” said Edvinas Girdvainis, a long-time national team member. “I would like to advocate for our coaching staff and the entire team. Having been part of the national team for about ten years, I can say that I have a strong connection with this group. I see how much work everyone—coaches and players—put in. I know the fans want points, but I ask for a bit of patience. We are genuinely giving our all, and I believe that effort shows. It’s disheartening that we ended up with no points despite our hard work. We are very disappointed, and we cannot hide that.”
Vykintas Slivka, another long-time Lithuanian international, echoed Edvinas’ sentiments. “It’s disappointing that we finished the cycle without any points; perhaps we lacked luck and better execution. We started poorly in the first fifteen minutes against Kosovo, but then we improved. We equalized the game, and it’s a shame to concede a goal like that.
After halftime, we dominated the match. We hit the post twice and I had my chances, but nothing went in. We lost almost every game in this cycle by just one goal. It really felt like we were competitive in all the matches. We created opportunities, but the opponents scored, and we didn’t. Ultimately, that’s what matters in football,” said the player who currently plays in Japan.