Lithuania will begin their new UEFA Nations League campaign on Thursday evening with an away match against Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Edgaras Jankauskas’ side enter the new cycle with several important players back available and will be looking to end a lengthy wait for a competitive victory. Kick-off at the Rheinpark Stadion is scheduled for 21:45 Baltic time.
The new Nations League cycle could potentially be Jankauskas’ last as Lithuania head coach, with the three-year contract of the Lithuanian specialist set to expire on December 31. He begins the campaign with several players back in the squad after injuries kept them out of recent international windows, including first-choice goalkeeper Edvinas Gertmonas and Celje defender Pijus Širvys, while Vykintas Slivka and Manfredas Ruzgis have also returned to the national team setup.
One new face is Adrian Lickūnas, who received his first senior call-up after making his Serie B debut in Italy earlier this season. Jankauskas praised the youngster when announcing his squad, describing Lickūnas as a “young, very interesting and athletic player” and stressing his desire to bring players of his age into the senior national team environment.
However, Lithuania have already lost one member of the original 26-man squad. Banga Gargždai midfielder Vaidas Magdušauskas was ruled out after medical examinations confirmed that the 22-year-old, who made his senior international debut against the Netherlands last year, would be unable to take part in the window.
Lithuania have been drawn alongside Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan in League D. With UEFA announcing changes to the Nations League format that will remove League D from the next edition, leaving only Leagues A, B and C, Lithuania are already guaranteed a return to League C.
Nevertheless, there will be expectations for Lithuania to produce results during this campaign. Jankauskas has several of his leading players available, including Gvidas Gineitis, Armandas Kučys, Edgaras Utkus, Justas Lasickas and Gertmonas. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, dropped from League C in the previous Nations League campaign and are expected to provide Lithuania with their main challenge in the group.
Thursday’s opponents Liechtenstein have not faced Lithuania for 13 years. The nations have met six times in total, with Lithuania winning four of those encounters, alongside one draw and one Liechtenstein victory.
Lithuania will also be searching for their first victory in a competitive match under Jankauskas since March 2024, when they defeated Gibraltar twice in the Nations League play-offs. Since then, Lithuania have recorded three draws and 11 defeats across 14 World Cup qualifying and Nations League matches. Their record in friendlies and the Baltic Cup has been more positive, including a victory over Moldova in March and two wins against Latvia, one of which came on penalties in this year’s Baltic Cup.
Despite Lithuania entering Thursday’s match as favourites, Jankauskas warned his players against expecting a straightforward evening in Vaduz.
“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,” Jankauskas said.
The Lithuania coach stressed that his side must approach the game with maximum commitment and concentration, regardless of the difference in rankings or the perceived quality of the two teams.
After the match in Liechtenstein, Lithuania will return home to host Azerbaijan on Sunday afternoon. Three days later, they will face Andorra in a friendly at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas before completing the 11-day international window with another Nations League meeting against Azerbaijan in Baku on October 4.
Lithuania squad for the September-October National team break:
Goalkeepers
- Džiugas Bartkus – Al-Riffa (BHR)
- Edvinas Gertmonas – Servette FC (SUI)
- Tomas Švedkauskas – Kauno Žalgiris (LTU)
Defenders
- Vilius Armalas – MTK Budapest (HUN)
- Žygimantas Baltrūnas – Sūduva (LTU)
- Dominykas Barauskas – TransINVEST (LTU)
- Kipras Kažukolovas – Astana (KAZ)
- Justas Lasickas – Rijeka (CRO)
- Rokas Lekiatas – Kauno Žalgiris (LTU)
- Adrian Lickūnas – Cremonese (ITA)
- Pijus Širvys – Celje (SVN)
- Artemijus Tutyškinas – Celje (SVN)
- Edgaras Utkus – Al-Kholood (KSA)
Midfielders
- Motiejus Burba – Kauno Žalgiris (LTU)
- Artūr Dolžnikov – Slovácko (CZE)
- Gvidas Gineitis – Torino (ITA)
- Eligijus Jankauskas – Hapoel Rishon LeZion (ISR)
- *Vaidas Magdušauskas – Banga (LTU)
- Lukas Michelbrink – Energie Cottbus (GER)
- Vykintas Slivka – Kauno Žalgiris (LTU)
- Faustas Steponavičius – Sūduva (LTU)
- Domantas Šluta – TransINVEST (LTU)
- Modestas Vorobjovas – Bnei Sakhnin (ISR)
Forwards
- Armandas Kučys – Celje (SVN)
- Manfredas Ruzgis – Besa (ALB)
- Ignas Venckus – Banga (LTU)
*Vaidas Magdušauskas left the team due injury
