The selector of the Lithuanian national football team Valdas Ivanauskas brought out several experienced players for the World Cup qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, who are hosted in Bulgaria and Switzerland. The Lithuanians will try to take the first points in Group S, after first winning five games with five losses. Bulgaria will visit them on October 9, and Switzerland on October 12.

Ivanauskas brought back experienced players such as Egidius Vaitkunas, Justinas Januszewski, Edvinas Girdavainis, Ernestas Veliulis and Karolis Laukjemis. Vilius Armanavicius was shown for the first time. Meanwhile, Benas Shatkus and Artemius Tutishkinas, who led the men’s team in September, are joining the youth team, which is also facing important challenges.

“Together with the coaches of the youth teams Marius Stankevicius and Thomas Raznauskas, we looked for the best options so that each team would not be torn and a common language was found. The national team is a priority, but we have not looked at that either. I just want to help to another, which is why he is looking for what is best for Lithuanian football at the moment, said the team’s coach Valdas Ivanauskas at a press conference.

Although the national team suffered three setbacks in the previous windows, this should not be used to motivate players, think about it.

There is motivation. First, twice we had the opportunity to achieve a certain result. The points, unfortunately, were not won. Play with motivated and proven that you may or may not be afraid to play against stronger teams than them. I have talked to them and I guarantee it, “said the coach.

Composition of Lithuania for the matches with Bulgaria and Switzerland:
goalkeepers: Ernestas Shetkus (Apoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Titas Krapikas (La Spezia, Italy), Edvinas Hermontas (Zalgiris Vilnius), Ignas Plukas (Hegelman Litauen)
defenders: Vitas Gasputas (Dunfermline, Scotland), Egidius Vaitkyunas (Zalgiris Kaunas), Dominikas Barauskas (Riteriai), Vaidas Slavitskas (Suduva), Edvinas Girdusnis (Yurstadis, Unengas, Germany), Lina Belgium)
midfielders: Domantas Shimkus (Sabail, Azerbaijan), Linas Megelaitis (Viterbese, Italy), Martinas Dapkus (Zalgiris Kaunas), Vilius Armanavicius (Hegelman Litauen), Ovidius Verbickas (Zalgiris Vilnasus, Turnasvis, Pazar), (Voždovac, Serbia), Donatas Kazlauskas (Academica Klincheni, Romania)
attackers: Karolis Laukjemis (Kaisar, Kazakhstan), Fyodor Chernykh (Jagiellonia Bialystok, Poland), Edgaras Dubitskas (Piacenza, Italy).

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