Lithuania will begin their new UEFA Nations League campaign on Thursday evening with an away match against Liechtenstein. Head coach Edgaras Jankauskas believes his side have greater quality than their opponents but warned that their status as favourites will mean little unless they prove it on the pitch.
Lithuania travelled on Wednesday and are based in the Swiss city of St Gallen, around 50 kilometres from the match venue in Liechtenstein. Later in the evening, Jankauskas’ squad held their official training session at the Rheinpark Stadion, which has a capacity of around 6,000.
Speaking before the session, Jankauskas acknowledged there is some pressure surrounding a match Lithuania will be expected to win.
“There is some tension, but we have players who are at European level,” Jankauskas said. “I believe our team is stronger than tomorrow’s opponent in many, perhaps even all, components, but that does not guarantee us a successful result because we will have to overcome maximum resistance.
“Maybe our opponents do not see us as such big favourites. I don’t know how they evaluate us, but perhaps that should not concern us. The most important thing is to go out with maximum commitment and concentration and do what we have to do.”
The Lithuania coach believes his team know where opportunities can be created against a Liechtenstein side expected to defend compactly, but emphasized that patience could prove just as important as attacking quality.
“We know what we have to do. We know how we need to break down their defence and where the keys might be to opening spaces and creating the areas from which we can score.
“We must not look at the rankings, the names of the teams or opponents whose names we perhaps have not heard before. We have to learn how to play with concentration under pressure.
“Our main task is our own game, its quality and calmness. Everything does not necessarily have to happen quickly. We will need patience, speed and endurance. There will be physical duels and perhaps some provocations and time-wasting.”
Jankauskas accepted Lithuania’s status as favourites but suggested his side may need to vary their approach rather than simply dominate possession against a deep defensive block.
“Our task is to find the right game plan, and it also has to be flexible because anything can happen. We will need a flexible plan and perhaps find a way to move the opponent around so that spaces open up. If we are favourites with the ball and simply push them all back, it might lead to nothing. We may have to draw them out.
“We are preparing, we will have our agreements, and I hope they function tomorrow and help us achieve the result we need, which is victory.”
Lithuania will be without Vaidas Magdušauskas, who was forced to withdraw through injury before the start of the camp. Jankauskas admitted his absence is particularly disappointing given the type of match Lithuania expect to face.
“It is a great shame that Vaidas dropped out because he had reached good form. He is exactly the type of player who could have suited a match like this very well because he is good with the ball in tight spaces, sees the small gaps and sees passes that not every player can see.
“We are left with the players we called up, and I think this team is strong enough to beat the opponent.”
Asked which Liechtenstein players Lithuania must be particularly aware of, Jankauskas highlighted goalkeeper Benjamin Büchel and captain Nicolas Hasler.
“This team perhaps does not have many big names, but two of their good players compete in the highest Swiss league. One of their players also spent many years playing in Italy’s Serie B. In any case, this team compensates for its weaknesses with great passion, fight, desire and teamwork, and sometimes that can cause major problems for much bigger teams.”
Lithuania’s Nations League opener against Liechtenstein at the Rheinpark Stadion kicks off at 21:45 local time on Thursday.
