Lithuania entered the European Goalball Championship with a thinning line-up, but with great ambitions
The city of Samsun, washed by the Black Sea, welcomed the Lithuanian national team with a pleasant 20-degree Celsius heat. The team is located just ten minutes from the center of Yasar Dogu Sport Hall.
“Living and training conditions in Samsun are really good. The hotel is good, we walk to the hall.
True, maybe the downside is that it’s quite stuffy, and the window alone can’t open because the hotel is in an industrial area, surrounded by a lot of metallurgical plants that make noise. But otherwise everything is fine.
Of course, Japan, but everything is enough, ”said the team’s head coach Valdas Gecevičius with a smile.
The biggest puzzle for the team’s helmsman is how to plug the gaps on the left side of the attack. Veterans Marius Zibolis and Genrikas Pavliukianec will not represent the Lithuanian national team in Samsun due to injuries. Team captain M. Zibolis is waiting for knee surgery, and G. Pavliukianec is being treated for elbow injury.
“The worst part is that both dropped out players compete in that specialist position. Now we are trying to attract Nerijus Montvydas and Artūras Jonikaitis to it. We’ve tried some of those options before. We will see how it will be.
However, there is not even an idea for anyone that we are not in the full line-up and will therefore seek to take an honorable sixth or seventh place, as it is destined to do so. There are no such thoughts. The goals of the Lithuanian national team remain the same, they are the highest. We will fight for a place in the top three, and we will see how we will succeed, ”V. Gecevičius said.
“We will try to close these gaps. Our goals are always the highest. Sure, they’re harder to achieve, but the goals don’t change. Everyone is already used to the medals we win, so the pressure is always, under any conditions, ”said the player of the Lithuanian national team N. Montvydas.
Goalball players from Spain, Russia, Ukraine and Belgium are waiting for Valdas Gecevičius’ students in Group A. Group B will feature national teams from Germany, Turkey, Greece, Montenegro and Finland.
The four best teams of each group will advance to the quarterfinals and the fight for the awards will continue.
“I think we need to try to regain first place in the European Championship. Of course, I think it will be very difficult to do this this time because there are really very good teams. I am talking about Ukraine, Germany. It doesn’t matter at all that these teams didn’t make it to the top four in Tokyo. They will still be one of the most serious rivals.
I would also add Turks to my favorites, but other teams should not be underestimated. Even those who came to the championship from the lower B division. All competitors must be taken very seriously and fight them one hundred percent to the very best goal, ”N. Montvydas demonstrated his determination.
When traumas hay veterans, the young Normantas Prušinskas will get his chance in Turkey, for whom this European Championship will be the debut international tournament of this level for the Lithuanian national team successfully.
“Normantas has played for a few minutes in other tournaments, but playing in the European Championship is a completely different experience. He’s really improved and looks no worse on attack than some of our other players. He still lacks both in defense. Sometimes he defends himself very well, but there are times when he makes simple balls due to a lack of experience and mastery. You want to involve Normantas in that contest as much as possible to feel what they have announced. Because without game time you will not grow, “said the coach.
Lithuanian national football team in the European Championship: Mantas Brazauskis, Artūras Jonikaitis, Nerijus Montvydas, Justas Pažarauskas, Normantas Prušinskas. Mr. coach Valdas Gecevičius, assistant Sandra Šalčiūtė.
Lithuanian national team schedule in European Championship:
Friday, November 5th
11.30 am Lithuania – Spain
Saturday, November 6th
9.10 a.m. Russia – Lithuania
Sunday, November 7th
4:10 p.m. Ukraine – Lithuania
November 8 Monday
13.50 p.m. Lithuania – Belgium
Wednesday, November 10th
Quarterfinals
Thursday, November 11th
Semifinals
Friday, November 12th
Finals