After Lithuania’s men’s national team suffered a heavy defeat in Denmark, head coach Edgaras Jankauskas offered a candid assessment, acknowledging that the result accurately reflected the course of the match—and that the Danes were clearly superior in every aspect.
“Looking at the game, it’s a good thing this was a friendly,” Jankauskas remarked. “Football is a game where you can concede three, four, even five goals in a single half. If the circumstances are like they were today, the numbers could be even worse. We’ve seen this happen even in finals—teams letting in five goals.”
Despite recognizing the clear gulf in class and preparation between the sides, Jankauskas was critical of his team’s defensive lapses. “The goals we conceded were simply too cheap. The mistakes we made are unacceptable at this level, especially against such a strong opponent. We let them score far too easily early on. Then going down to ten men made it nearly impossible to mount any kind of threat. It was a sobering experience. At least we can be relieved that it happened in a friendly.”
Down 3–0 at halftime, Jankauskas admitted lifting the players’ spirits was a tough task. “We didn’t even have a scenario like this in our pre-match discussions,” he said. “It was extremely difficult for the players—not just mentally but physically as well. I won’t question their desire; the guys gave what they could. They were motivated and prepared. But today, we just have to face the truth—this is the level difference. There’s no shame in admitting it; this is our current reality. We can make excuses—say it’s a tough month like June—but there’s no point in that.”
“This result is a mirror to where we are. And sometimes, a hard reality check like this is necessary. It reminds us how much work still lies ahead. The players need to feel it too—it was like a wet slap across the face. We’re back down to earth, and we know we have a long road to improvement. Denmark showed us the standard we should be aiming for. That’s how this game should be summed up,” the coach concluded.
Compared to the previous match against Malta, Lithuania made just one change to the starting lineup, with Titas Milašius stepping in for Justas Lasickas, who eventually came on as a substitute. As Jankauskas revealed, Lasickas was not meant to play at all.
“Justas wasn’t supposed to play today. He was already carrying an injury in Malta. We wanted to protect him—he finished the season on painkillers. He wasn’t even supposed to be in the squad today, but circumstances forced our hand.”
“For the sake of the team, he sacrificed himself and took a risk that could have ended his season or even affected his career. Fortunately, he avoided a serious injury and was able to contribute for a few minutes when we needed fresh legs. Playing a man down and defending constantly takes a huge toll,” Jankauskas admitted.
Despite the painful scoreline, the coach believes there are always lessons to be taken—even from such a tough outing.
“There’s always something to learn. And I think the players would agree—Denmark didn’t surprise us. We had them well analyzed. We knew how they like to play vertically, how fast they move the ball to their forwards, how technically gifted they are. We just lacked speed, mobility, and the ability to match their movement. That’s the bottom line,” he said.
Source: https://www.lff.lt/e-jankauskas-klaidos-buvo-neatleistinos/
