The Lithuanian men’s national team will close out their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Monday evening as they face group favorites the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Ahead of the fixture, head coach Edgaras Jankauskas addressed the challenges his team will face against one of Europe’s top-ranked sides and shared his thoughts on how Lithuania can approach the match.
Jankauskas emphasized the unique opportunity for his squad. “Playing in such a historic stadium against such a powerful opponent is a privilege,” he said. “For the players, gaining this kind of experience is invaluable. Of course, we know the Netherlands are an elite team, currently ranked sixth in the world, but we need to shed any sense of intimidation. In some ways, they may feel more pressure facing us than we do facing them, because for them, a poor result carries heavy expectations and criticism. That is the mindset we want to bring to the game.”
The coach also highlighted a tactical approach for Lithuania, pointing to quick transitions and counterattacks as a potential way to challenge the Dutch side. “When they lose the ball while attacking, there are opportunities to strike on the break. That’s how we scored against them in Kaunas back in September, and it’s a pattern other teams, like Poland, have exploited as well,” Jankauskas explained. “It’s difficult to score from structured positional play because they dominate possession and often operate in our half, but regaining the ball and immediately launching a fast attack is where we have a chance. With our quick players, we can make that work.”
Belief and confidence are central to the coach’s philosophy heading into the match. “Everything starts with faith – faith in yourself and your teammates. The home game showed that, even in defeat, we can compete at this level. Players need to believe that they can make a difference. That mindset will be crucial against a team of this caliber.”
Despite Lithuania’s struggles in recent matches, Jankauskas stressed the importance of finishing the qualifying cycle with professionalism and commitment. “There’s a responsibility to complete this campaign properly, no matter the challenges we faced this season. How we end reflects our identity and our standards,” he said. “Some of our players have already finished their club seasons, so these are their final matches of the year. For them, and for the fans supporting us, it’s essential that we perform our roles with full effort and professionalism until the final whistle.”
The match inside the famous Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam tomorrow will start at 9:45 PM Baltic time.
