Lithuania-Faroe Islands is a match for the fifth day of the Nations League and is scheduled for Thursday at 20:45
LITHUANIA-FAROE ISLANDS
Lithuania have one and a half feet in League D. If we were to take into consideration all the Nations League rounds – thus including the other leagues – we would realise that no selection has so far managed to do worse than the one led by German coach Reinhold Breu, who took over a few weeks ago from the relieved Valdas Ivanauskas. Not only have the yellow-greens suffered only defeats in Group 1, they also have the worst goal difference, having scored barely one goal and conceded twelve.
A negative moment that has actually been going on non-stop since October 2021, a good eleven months ago. It has been a long time since the Baltics last won in official matches – in March they beat San Marino 2-1, but that was a friendly – and they have been losing ever since the victory against Bulgaria. Lithuania is therefore destined to finish in last place, thus relegating to the lower league. Another disastrous campaign, the second one in a row after the Qatar 2022 qualifying round – where Italy was also involved – which ended in last place with a record of one win and seven defeats.
The only way to avoid relegation would be to win the last two matches of the round against the Faroe Islands and Luxembourg. The Scandinavians, on the other hand, are one step away from a salvation that was difficult to predict at the start of the competition. And that attests to the growth path of this small and modest selection, which in the previous Nations League was promoted from League D by scoring twelve points in a group with Malta, Lithuania and Andorra. Hakan Ericson’s men come from two positive results: in June they beat Lithuania 2-1 and then drew 2-2 with Luxembourg.
The Prediction
Salvation is at stake and only a win will keep Lithuania’s hopes of staying in League C alive. The record is in favour of the Baltics but the Faroe Islands are far more competitive than in the past. Away from home they are more vulnerable but they have what it takes to avoid defeat and condemn the Lithuanians to relegation. A balanced match of less than four goals overall looms.
Lithuania-Faroe Islands line-up probables
- LITUANIA (4-2-3-1): Bartkus; Mikoliunas, Girdvainis, Klimavicius, Barauskas; Slivka, Megelaitis; Kazlauskas, Cernych, Novikovas; Klimavicius.
- ISOLE FAROE (4-4-2): Nielsen; Sorensen, Baldvinsson, Nattestad, Davidsen; Bjartalid, Vatnhamar, Andreasen, M. Olsen; K. Olsen, Johannesen.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
