Northern Ireland v Lithuania (12/11/2021)

WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 QUALIFIER NORTHERN IRELAND V LITHUANIA

NATIONAL FOOTBALL STADIUM AT WINDSOR PARK OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME | 12/11/2021 | £4

02. TEAMS 03.

PRESIDENT ’S WELCOME

04. IAN BARACLOUGH 07. PATRICK NELSON 10. NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD 12. JOSH MAGENNIS 18. DID YOU KNOW? 27. THE OPPONENTS 32. JORDAN THOMPSON 41. INTERNATIONAL RECORD

IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

PRESIDENT: CONRAD KIRKWOOD CHIEF EXECUTIVE: PATRICK NELSON ADVERTISING: IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIAT ION PICTURES: PRESS EYE

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HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS: DANNY LYNCH EDITOR: NIGEL T ILSON DESIGN: L ANDMARK PRINT: MINPRINT LTD. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VIEWS IN THIS PROGRAMME DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF THE IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIAT ION.

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NORTHERN IRELAND GREEN & WHITE

LITHUANIA YELLOW & GREEN

MANAGER I. BARACLOUGH

MANAGER V. IVANAUSKAS

E. ŠETKUS (HAPOEL TEL AVIV (ISR)) (C) T. KRAPIKAS (TERNANA CALCIO (ITA)) E. GERTMONAS (ŽALGIRIS) I. PLŪKAS (FC HEGELMANN LITAUEN) V. GAŠPUITIS (DUNFERMLINE) E. VAITKŪNAS (KAUNO ŽALGIRIS) D. BARAUSKAS (RITERIAI) E. GIRDVAINIS (KAUNO ŽALGIRIS) D. ŠIMKUS (SABAIL (AZE))

C. HAZARD (CELTIC) B. PEACOCK-FARRELL (SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY)*

L. SOUTHWOOD (READING) D. BALLARD (MILLWALL)** C. BRADLEY (LIVERPOOL) C. BROWN (CARDIFF CITY) C. CATHCART (WATFORD) J. EVANS (LEICESTER CITY) T. FLANAGAN (SUNDERLAND) S. FERGUSON (ROTHERHAM UNITED) J. LEWIS (NEWCASTLE UNITED) S. DALLAS (LEEDS UNITED) S. DAVIS (RANGERS) (C) C. EVANS (SUNDERLAND) E. GALBRAITH (DONCASTER ROVERS)*** J. JONES (WIGAN ATHLETIC) A. McCANN (PRESTON NORTH END) N. McGINN (ABERDEEN) P. McNAIR (MIDDLESBROUGH) G. SAVILLE (MILLWALL) J. THOMPSON (STOKE CITY) J. MAGENNIS (HULL CITY) D. TAYLOR (NOT TINGHAM FOREST) C. WASHINGTON (CHARLTON ATHLETIC) G. WHYTE (OXFORD UNITED)****

B. ŠATKUS (NÜRNBERG (GER)) G. MATULEVICIUS (SŪDUVA) L. MĖGELAITIS (VITERBESE (ITA)) M. DAPKUS (KAUNO ŽALGIRIS) O. VERBICKAS (ŽALGIRIS) A. NOVIKOVAS (ERZURUMSPOR BB (TUR)) J. LASICKAS (VOŽDOVAC (SRB)) D. KAZLAUSKAS (ACADEMICA CLINCENI (ROM)) E. VELIULIS (PANEVĖŽYS) F. ČERNYCH (JAGIELLONIA (POL)) E. DUBICKAS (PIACENZA CALCIO (ITA)) K. LAUKŽEMIS (KAISAR (KAZ)) V. ARMANAVIČIUS (FC HEGELMANN LITAUEN) A. KUČYS (KALMAR (SWE))

* ON LOAN FROM BURNLEY ** ON LOAN FROM ARSENAL *** ON LOAN FROM MANCHESTER UNI TED **** ON LOAN FROM CARDIFF CI T Y

MATCH DAY OFFICIALS REFEREE: ISTVAN VAD (HUN)

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: VENCEL TOTH (HUN) ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: ISTVAN ALBERT (HUN) 4TH OFFICIAL: FERENC KARAKO (HUN) VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: TAMAS BOGNAR (HUN) ASSISTANT VAR: KATALIN KULCSAR (HUN) REFEREE ASSESSOR: VLADO SVILOKOS (CRO)

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NIR V LTU

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

Welcome to all of you as we look forward to another great night of football at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. I hope the weather for the game is better than a normal night in November but, despite what will no doubt be a cold evening, I offer a warm welcome to our visitors from Lithuania.

Away from this game the Lithuanian Football Federation is looking ahead to having a much- needed new national football stadium to host games. Recently Vilnius City Council approved an agreement as part of a multifunctional complex which includes the provision of a new stadium (planned for 2025) . I cannot help but think of the excitement that lies ahead for them as I recall the completion of the redevelopment of our own national stadium. Their international home will be slightly smaller than ours but if they can recreate in the future the kind of atmosphere that is generated at our games then they will be delighted. You will recall that Northern Ireland enjoyed their first victory in European Qualifying Group C for FIFA World Cup 2022 in the corresponding tie in Vilnius back in September (4-1 win) . Ian Baraclough is already on record as saying that the team will be looking to finish on a high so it should be a good game this evening. Shayne Lavery, a scorer in Vilnius, is one of several absentees tonight , however it is uplifting to see young players such as Conor Bradley making a big impact . It is great to see two new faces added to the squad in the form of Dale Taylor and Luke Southwood. Dale is only 17 years old - he turns 18 next month - but has the same maturity as Conor and will learn quickly from the senior

players. Luke increases the options for the goalkeeper’s jersey, and with Bailey Peacock- Farrell fresh from his seventh clean sheet for Sheffield Wednesday the competition can only be a good thing. The identification and development of emerging talent is an important element of building the Northern Ireland teams of the future. We must plan ahead. It was good to hear Andy Waterworth, head of the Irish FA JD Academy in collaboration with UEFA, outline the evolving JD-sponsored National Performance Programme last week. Through that work the association is aiming to establish and maintain clear pathways to professional football with the ultimate goal of producing international players for Northern Ireland. The travelling support for the senior women’s team at Wembley last month showed the English that a small number of the Green and White Army can hold their own. They sung their hearts out . It will be good to enjoy two home senior men’s games with our own fans in the stadium - and the noise that a much larger support will make will no doubt be impressive. CONRAD KIRKWOOD PRESIDENT IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIAT ION

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We may not have met our target of reaching a play-off but we definitely want to finish our FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification campaign on a high.

We have two home games in front of you, our fans, over the next four days - and we want you to go home looking forward to the UEFA Nations League and Euro qualifiers which are coming up over the next couple of years. Both the players and staff are in good spirits ahead of our double header in the final international window of the year. We have had some ups and downs during this World Cup campaign and that was to be expected given that the team is going through a period of transition. But we have set ourselves high standards and we need to ensure we maintain those high standards and make sure we become a team that performs for 90 minutes, and not 70 or 75 minutes. Personally I am delighted to have been offered a new two-year contract by the Irish Football Association. I have thoroughly enjoyed working in the Northern Ireland set-up, first as U21s manager and now as senior men’s team manager. The association’s Board members know I am passionate about my job and how I like to give youth a chance. I am delighted they have put their faith and trust me. Although I am disappointed that our World Cup qualification campaign did not go as well as myself, my staff and the players expected, I am nevertheless confident we are putting together

the wider group. They have a first class attitude and they are hungry to play for their country. Even though we defeated Lithuania 4-1 in Vilnius in September we will not be taking them lightly in this evening’s reverse European Qualifying Group C encounter. We know the Lithuanians are strong, resolute and really compact . They had a good result at home to Bulgaria last month and their new coach is starting to implement fresh ideas. Lithuania will run for 90 minutes. They won’t make it easy for us and they have two or three players who can hurt you if you stand off them and give them time. We can’t allow that to happen. Naturally, I am delighted that the stadium will be close to capacity once more for both this match and the game against Italy on Monday. The atmosphere against Switzerland in September was superb and I am really looking forward to leading the team out at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park once again. The onus is on us to give you a performance worthy of you getting behind us. I have told the players we must take a positive result and performance into the Italy game and I know they will want to do that - and that they can do that . IAN BARACLOUGH NORTHERN IRELAND MANAGER

a strong squad for future campaigns. We now have a nice blend of youth and

experience and I have been pleased at how the younger players have seamlessly become part of

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GOOD EVENING Welcome to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park for tonight’s match against Lithuania, the first instalment of a double header in Belfast, with newly minted European champions Italy due to visit us on Monday.

It is no secret that we are disappointed that we can’t now qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, however tonight we have the opportunity to lay down a marker for our next campaign. In September we won 4-1 in Vilnius, and another win this evening would set the stage very nicely for the final match against Italy. Our latest World Cup qualification campaign has been mixed: a good second half against Italy in Parma in March, a poor second half against Bulgaria in Sofia last month would be among the contrasting fortunes we have experienced this year. The absence of some of our key players has been keenly felt , with Jonny Evans in particular being missed in recent months, and it is a pleasure to welcome Jonny back into the squad this week. As all football managers will say, however, injuries offer opportunities to other players, and we have been buoyed by the emergence of the likes of Daniel Ballard, Conor Bradley, Ciaron Brown, Shayne Lavery and Ali McCann this year, all of whom have performed well in the green shirt . As we look forward to the next two years of competition, it is worth noting that we have decided that Ian Baraclough should continue to be the man at the helm of the senior men’s national team.

We feel confident that Ian has gained valuable international management experience in his tenure so far, and that we will perform to our expectations in upcoming competitions. On 16 December we will learn who our competitive opponents for 2022 will be, as the UEFA Nations League draw takes place on that day in Montreux. The f low of international games will be a little different next year given FIFA’s decision to move the World Cup finals tournament to December. This means we will have two friendly games in March, four UEFA Nations League games in June and the final two UEFA Nations League games in September. On the subject of draws, on 28 October we learned that our senior women’s national team’s opponents at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 finals will be Norway, Austria and host nation England. All of our group games will be held at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, which is a great city to be located in. I’m sure the GAWA will be over in force and it will be a summer to remember! Enjoy the game tonight .

PATRICK NELSON CHIEF EXECUT IVE IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIAT ION

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POS: CLUB: GOALKEEPER READING LUKE SOUTHWOOD

DANIEL BALLARD

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

GOALKEEPER CELT IC

GOALKEEPER SHEFF IELD WEDNESDAY

DEFENDER MILLWALL

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

23

0

0

23

3

0

25

27

0

22

12

1

ON LOAN FROM BURNLEY

ON LOAN FROM ARSENAL

POS: CLUB: DEFENDER L IVERPOOL CONOR BRADLEY

JONNY EVANS

CIARON BROWN

CRAIG CATHCART

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

DEFENDER LECIESTER CI T Y

DEFENDER CARDIFF CI T Y

DEFENDER WAT FORD

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

33

91

4

18

5

0

23

7

0

32

65

2

TOM FLANAGAN

SHANE FERGUSON

JAMAL LEWIS

STUART DALLAS

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

DEFENDER SUNDERL AND

DEFENDER ROTHERHAM UNI TED

DEFENDER NEWCAST LE UNI TED

MIDF IELDER LEEDS UNI TED

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

30

58

3

30

11

0

30

52

2

23

24

0

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NIR V LTU

STEVEN DAVIS

ETHAN GALBRAITH

JORDAN JONES

CORRY EVANS

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

MIDF IELDER RANGERS

MIDF IELDER DONCASTER ROVERS

MIDF IELDER WIGAN ATHLE T IC

MIDF IELDER SUNDERL AND

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

20

2

0

31

66

2

36

130

12

27

17

1

ON LOAN FROM MANCHESTER UNI TED

AL I McCANN

NIALL McGINN

PADDY McNAIR

GEORGE SAVILLE

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

MIDF IELDER PRESTON NORTH END

MIDF IELDER ABERDEEN

MIDF IELDER MIDDLESBROUGH

MIDF IELDER MILLWALL

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

21

8

1

34

68

6

26

51

5

28

33

0

POS: CLUB: MIDF IELDER STOKE CI T Y JORDAN THOMPSON

POS: CLUB: FORWARD HULL CI T Y JOSH MAGENNIS

DALE TAYLOR

POS: CLUB: FORWARD CHARLTON ATH. CONOR WASHINGTON

GAVIN WHY TE

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

FORWARD NOT T INGHAM FOR

FORWARD OXFORD UNI TED

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

24

20

0

31

63

8

17

0

0

29

33

6

25

20

3

ON LOAN FROM CARDIFF CI T Y

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JOS NIR V LTU 12

SH Josh Magennis is eager to get back to winning ways on home soil when JOSH MAGENNIS READY TO ROCK AND ROLL! IRISHFA.COM

SQUAD NO: 21 \ NI APP: 63 CLUBS: CARDIFF CI T Y (9) GRIMSBY TOWN (LOAN 2) ABERDEEN (105) ST MIRREN (LOAN 13) KILMARNOCK (72) CHARLTON ATHLET IC (81) BOLTON WANDERERS (42) HULL CI T Y (81)

PLACE OF BIRTH: BANGOR HEIGHT: 188CM WEIGHT: 91KG

Northern Ireland face Lithuania in their penultimate FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier this evening.

DATE OF BIRTH: 15-08-1990

POSITION: FORWARD

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An hour of Fun Football means more than just 60minutes.

Football seems to always be about the numbers.

Shots on target. Possession stats. Successful dribbles. Tackles made. Offsides. Minutes played. The scoreline. While we’re thrilled to be celebrating hitting our target a year early, it’s never been just about the numbers. It’s always been about the kids and the enjoyment they get fromour sessions. If there’s a smile on their faces, that’s a win for us.

Here’s to plenty more hours of Fun Football!

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A cruel combination of misfortune, rattled woodwork and fine margins has seen the national team go nine games without a win at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. It hasn’t been for the want of trying, but the last time a victory was celebrated in south Belfast was a 1-0 friendly win over Luxembourg in September 2019. Magennis actually scored a late winner the last time Northern Ireland marked a competitive win at home - in a 2-1 victory over Belarus in a Euro 2020 qualifier 32 months ago. “It just hasn’t happened for us in recent times, but when Windsor is rocking at the end of a win there’s no better feeling,” said the Hull City striker. “If you actually look back at recent home games, the only one where there was a gulf was against Norway (1-5) when Erling Haaland, a top class player, made all the difference. “The expectation to win is there and it’s hard to take when you’re not winning, but we know the quality is there and in a lot of recent games the smallest of margins have gone against us. “It’s about getting ourselves on the right side of those small margins again and turning Windsor into a bit of a fortress again.” Magennis believes it’s a major “positive” that national manager Ian Baraclough will be at the helm for the forthcoming UEFA Nations League and UEFA Euro 2024 campaigns. The Irish FA recently confirmed that the 50-year- old, who succeeded Michael O’Neill 17 months ago, has agreed to extend his contract beyond the World Cup campaign. “It’s good that the gaffer has agreed a new deal ,” he said. “Continuity is important because we know the way he wants to play and the path he wants to go down. JOSH MAGENNIS READY TO ROCK AND ROLL!

“The way he’s trying to play is exciting and he has also introduced a lot of new players and new faces to the squad. “When the likes of Chris Brunt , Gareth McAuley, Aaron Hughes and Oliver Norwood retired from international football , you maybe wondered who would come through. “But the boys who have come in during this campaign have stepped up and done unbelievably well . The squad is looking strong moving forward.” Millwall defender Daniel Ballard, Preston North End midfielder Ali McCann and Liverpool teenager Conor Bradley have all made their debuts on Baraclough’s watch. And Magennis has been impressed by how Bradley, who made his first start in last month’s 2-1 defeat to Bulgaria in Sofia, has acclimatised to international football in his five caps to date. “It’s always a big step up to play international football , but Conor has taken to it like a duck to water,” he said. “It doesn’t really surprise me because at Liverpool he is playing and training with a high quality of player and is used to being around a winning mentality every day. “Conor maybe hasn’t played a lot of games, but the work he’s doing at Liverpool holds him in really good stead. When he is with us he is really confident and assured.”

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Versatile midfielder Shane Ferguson reached the 50-cap milestone for Northern Ireland in the friendly against Estonia in September – and he scored a memorable winner into the bargain. Here Marshall Gillespie looks back at his Northern Ireland career to date.

Shane won his first full international cap while

As well as passing the half century of appearances for his country, Ferguson also won 11 caps without scoring for the U21 side. He scored three goals in 16 outings for the under-19 team while he played eight games for the U17s, again without finding the net . Ferguson was handed his full Northern Ireland debut by former manager Nigel Worthington when he came on as a 78th minute sub for Corry Evans in a 3-0 friendly defeat to Italy in Pisa on 6 June 2009. He was actually one of eight players to make their international debuts that evening. He was also aged just 17 years and 329 days which, at the time, made him the 10th youngest player ever to represent Northern Ireland.

playing for Newcastle United and went on to play 10 times for his country while at St James’ Park. He clocked up a further eight appearances while on loan at Birmingham City, 31 during his six years at Millwall and three caps with his current employers Rotherham United.

Ferguson has started 33 of his 52 appearances for his country, being substituted in 21 of them. He has also been an unused substitute on no fewer than 27 occasions. Shane’s full playing record at senior international level is: P W D L W% D% L% 52 17 13 22 33 25 42

Shane has chalked up four assists in a green shirt . Two of them have led to goals from Kyle Lafferty, while he has also managed assists for Gareth McAuley versus Portugal and Martin Paterson versus Luxembourg, both in September 2013.

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NIR V LTU

Ferguson has scored just two international goals for his country. His first came in a thrilling 3-3 friendly draw at Windsor Park against Finland on 15 August 2012 in what was only his fourth international appearance. He also became only the fourth player to score on the full international stage for Northern Ireland while playing for Newcastle United. However, he had to wait nine years for his second goal , which of course came back in September in Tallinn against Estonia (1-0 win for Northern Ireland) when he marked his 50th appearance with a stunning strike.

Ian Baraclough is the third Northern Ireland manager that Shane has played under. Nigel Worthington gave him his debut , which was his only appearance during the former Sheffield Wednesday defender’s spell in charge. Not surprisingly the vast majority of his caps came under Michael O’Neill (41) , while to date he has played in 10 of Ian Baraclough’s 18 games in charge.

In his 12 years as a professional in England and Scotland, Ferguson has played for a total of five clubs. He made 32 appearances without scoring for Newcastle United. He scored once in 34 matches in two separate loan spells with Birmingham City. An unproductive stint at Rangers saw him play just four games before moving to south London with Millwall where he found the net 12 times in 217 appearances. At the time of writing he had played 12 matches for his current side Rotherham United. He joined the EFL League One side in the summer.

During his 12-year stint as a full international Shane Ferguson has been booked on just three occasions. His first yellow card came in October 2015 in a 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying win in Estonia. The other two cautions came in back-to- back World Cup qualifying matches in the autumn of 2016 - against Germany, when Northern Ireland lost 2-0 in Hanover, and versus Azerbaijan, when Michael O’Neill’s side won 4-0 at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.

In total Shane has played 2,827 minutes in his 52 games for Northern Ireland. The majority of those minutes have been in friendly matches - 1051 - while 1029 have come in World Cup qualifiers, 476 in Euro qualifiers and 271 in the UEFA Nations League.

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SCOUTING REPORT Andy Greeves takes a closer look at Lithuania ahead of this evening’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier. LOWDOWN Lithuania finally ended their long wait to secure points in FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying when they beat Bulgaria 3-1 in Vilnius last month. The result , coupled with Switzerland’s 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in Geneva on the same day, ended Bulgaria’s hopes of qualification from European Qualifying Group C. Both Northern Ireland and Lithuania are out of contention for qualification themselves with five and three points respectively coming into this fixture, of course. Former Hearts manager Valdas Ivanauskas replaced Valdas Urbonas as head coach of the Rinktine (national team) in August this year but was unable to take his place on the sidelines for the Lithuania-Northern Ireland fixture the following month having tested positive for Covid-19. Assistant coach Tomas Razanauskas took charge for that game, while Ivanauskas returned for the away fixture with Bulgaria, which they lost 1-0. TACTICS It is fair to assume that Ivanauskas will still be experimenting with his squad selection and team formation in these early months of his new job role. In recent World Cup qualifying matches Lithuania have typically set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation that has appeared more like a 4-5-1 formation when the Rinktine are out of possession.

There does seem to be a relative fluidity to Lithuania’s team shape, especially in attacking areas.

It was interesting to note the role of Justas Lasickas during the aforementioned victory over Bulgaria. Starting in a left-wing position for the Rinktine, he increasingly got touches of the ball in central areas as the game progressed. This helped him get in the box to score Lithuania’s opener and chest a ball into the path of Fedor Cernych for a wonderful volleyed goal for the Rinktine’s second. Operating with a back four, both of Lithuania’s full backs have license to get forward and support attacking moves. Right back Rolandas Baravykas scored in Lithuania’s 4-1 defeat at home to Northern Ireland in early September. STRENGTHS With relative pace in attacking areas, Lithuania are able to hit teams effectively on the counter attack. Winger Arvydas Novikovas remains a key component within this system as he is able to carry the ball at speed and has a real coolness in and around the opposition’s penalty area – as demonstrated with his movement and fine pass to set up Lasickas for the opener against Bulgaria in October. With 12 goals in 75 international appearances to date, Novikovas is seven strikes short of equalling Tomas Danilevicius’ all-time scoring record for Lithuania. Fedor Černych is a classic number 10 who is able to link Lithuania’s midfield and forward lines effectively. He is adept at timing his run towards or into the opposition penalty area, as he demonstrated with two goals in three minutes late on against the Bulgarians last month. While the Rinktine have conceded 18 goals in FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying to date, goalkeeper and captain Ernestas Setkus can largely be exonerated from blame. The 6ft 3ins stopper, who was voted goalkeeper of the season in Israel in 2018 and Lithuanian Footballer of the Year in 2019, is a big presence in the Lithuanian goal and recently saved a penalty from Bulgaria’s Dimitar Iliev.

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FROM PITCH TO BOARDROOM Tomas Danilevicius, Lithuania’s leading all-time goalscorer, has been the president of the Lithuanian Football Federation since 2017, and he has had quite a journey from the pitch to the boardroom.

WORDS: ANDY GREEVES

Following the signing of the Act of the Re- Establishment of the State of Lithuania in 1990, which established the country’s independence from the Soviet Union, Lithuania started to compete in international football once again having previously done so between 1923 and 1940. Having re-joined FIFA and gained UEFA affiliation in 1992, Lithuania were quick to re-establish themselves as a respectable presence in the world game. The Rinktine finished third in their qualifying groups for UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Around the same time Klaipeda-born striker Danilevicius was impressing in the early stages of his professional career, turning out for Belgian outfit Club Brugge prior to a transfer to Dynamo Moscow in 1998. Danilevicius made his debut for Lithuania in a 4-2 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 14 October 1998, just a day after featuring for his country’s U21s against the Bosnians. His first international goal came in his eighth appearance for the Rinktine as he netted in a 2-1 win over Cyprus in the Cyprus International Tournament in February 2001. Less than a year earlier Danilevicius had secured himself a move from Lausanne to Arsenal , however things didn’t really work out for him in north London, with the Gunners allowing him to go on loan to Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic during the 2000-01 season. He was sold to Belgian side Beveren in July 2001 after just three competitive appearances for the Gunners and went on to become something of a journeyman at club level with moves to the likes of Livorno, Bologna, Juve Stabia, Latina and Parma. But at international level Danilevicius became an increasingly important figure in the Lithuanian national team. His five international goals in

2006 included the opener in a famous 1-1 draw for the Rinktine against Italy in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier in Naples in September of that year. He also scored five international goals in 2007, including a strike in a 2-0 victory over Ukraine in Kaunas. Danilevicius spearheaded Lithuania’s strong push as they attempted to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He netted four times in Group 7 with a brace in a 2-0 home win over Austria and a 1-0 win over the Faroe Islands. The Rinktine rose to their highest FIFA World Ranking of 37 around this time (October 2008) as they beat Romania and Serbia in the same group. Alas a defeat to European minnows Faroe Islands proved particular costly as Lithuania eventually finished fourth in their group behind Serbia, France and Austria. The 2-1 loss to the Faroes in September 2009 saw Danilevicius score his 19th international goal , which continues to make him his country’s top scorer to date. The last of his 71 international appearances came against Liechtenstein in October 2012 and he retired from playing all together less than two years later. Danilevicius started a property business following his retirement before he was elected as president of the Lithuanian Football Federation in September 2017. He was re-elected for a four-year term in August 2020. Speaking to UEFA.com at the time, he said: “I want to continue the work which has been started. We have a lot of objectives, such as the improvement of indoor infrastructures and nurturing women’s football . My goal for this term is to have specific results, and we have a strateg y for that .”

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WORDS: WILLIAM CAMPBELL

INSPIRATION STRIKES AT THE STRANGEST TIMES AND IN THE STRANGEST PLACES.

IT’S TIME TO S

For Wordsworth it was on Westminster Bridge early in the morning, for Seamus Heaney it was his hard-working farmer father, for Robert Keats it was autumn – ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ - or perhaps a Grecian urn. Paul McCartney found his when writing a song for John Lennon’s son Julian, who was known as Jude, and Tchaikovsky wanted the sound of battle, cannons and all , to be incorporated into his music and composed the striking 1812 Overture. Leonardo Da Vinci was captivated by the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa. All great artists require the inspiration to create their memorable works. That spark of inspiration is what lifts the ordinary to become the wonderful , the mundane to become the extraordinary. In sport inspiration can be found in our mentors, our coaches, our predecessors or our families and from the inner strength which drives athletes on to greatness. Much decorated GB rower Steve Redgrave notoriously trained on Christmas Day believing that as his main rivals would be sitting it out as a day off that this gave him the miniscule advantage which, in a sport which can see victory in thousands of seconds, might just be the difference in the podium place or the colour of medal . So where can our boys in green find their inspiration as they march out to face Lithuania this evening? They should respond to the support of the Green and White Army, always vocal in their encouragement and always present even when matches are played ‘behind closed doors’, or there is the history and tradition of our illustrious association. And what about the exploits of the past of players such as Peter Docherty, Danny Blanchflower, Harry Gregg, Pat Jennings, George Best , Gerry Armstrong, Norman Whiteside, David Healy and all the others too numerous to mention?

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L AUREN WADE ON THE BALL FOR NORTHERN IREL AND WOMEN AT WEMBLEY L AST MONTH.

HINE…

Or perhaps they can find their inspiration a little closer to home? What about channeling their inner Julie Nelson, Jackie Burns or Lauren Wade? For whilst our senior men’s team have been struggling of late, the Northern Ireland senior women’s team are trailblazing for the sport . Qualification for the UEFA Women’s Euros in the summer of 2022 and the great run of form they are currently enjoying, only pipped in injury time from defeating Austria last month at Seaview, should provide the inspiration that is needed. For too long we have called on the history of Blanchflower, Best , Healy et al as the target all our teams should strive for. Now we have new heroines, new inspiration, new role models for our next generations to admire. Long may it be the case. Right boys, the girls have shown the way, so it’s over to you. It’s your turn to shine!

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THE COACH: LITHUANIA

Valdas Ivanauskas was appointed Lithuania’s

manager in August but had to wait to be in the dugout for his first match after testing positive for Covid-19 prior to the World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in Vilnius in September. Ivanauskas missed the September trips to Bulgaria and Italy too, but he was able to take charge of the 3-1 victory over the Bulgarians in October when Lithuania ended a run of nine straight defeats. Upon taking the job Ivanauskas – he has also coached his country’s Under-18 and Under-21 teams – said: “The last defeats were painful , not only in terms of results, but also in terms of mood. “We are in a really difficult situation; we are realistic, and we understand everything; we understand that something needs to change. It takes patience and faith, but it is also very important that the players really want to play for the national team, try to give their full strength and show their mastery.” The 55-year-old had only been in charge of Lithuania’s Under-19s since February and his current contract with the senior side expires after this qualification campaign. He was born in Kaunas and as a striker played for some of Europe’s major clubs, including CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow and Hamburg. He played for both the Soviet Union and Lithuania as an international , winning five caps for the former between 1988 and 1990, and scoring eight goals in 28 appearances for the nation he now manages. Ivanauskas has had a long coaching and managerial career, and he has previously been in

WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

charge of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. He guided them to a second-place finish in the division as well as a Scottish Cup triumph in 2005-06 when Hearts beat Gretna on penalties in the final at Hampden Park to win the competition for a seventh time. He left the Edinburgh club by mutual consent in March 2007 and later managed Carl Zeiss Jena in Germany, FK Banga Gargzdai, FK Siauliai and FK REO in Lithuania, Standard Sumgayit in Azerbaijan, Dila Gori in Georgia, SKA-Energiya Khabarovsk in Russia and Zaglebie Sosnowiec in Poland. • Of Ivanauskas’ eight international goals, three of them came in one match as he hit a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 14 October 1998. • He made over 400 league appearances for clubs in Lithuania, Russia, Austria and Germany, and scored 96 goals. • While with Austria Vienna he was twice the top scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga and won three successive titles. • Ivanuaskas was Hearts’ first foreign manager. His win percentage of 50% from the 42 games he took charge of as an interim and permanent manager is sixth best in the Edinburgh club’s history.

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THE SQUAD: LITHUANIA

WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

ERNESTAS ŠETKUS GOALKEEPER HAPOEL TEL AVIV AGE 36 CAPS 35 GOALS 0 Lithuania’s captain who was the country’s Footballer of the Year in 2019. In October’s 3-1 win over Bulgaria he saved a penalty from Dimitar Iliev when the score was still 0-0. Plays his club football in Israel having previously spent time with teams in seven other countries. FC HEGELMANN LITAUEN AGE 27 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 Plukas has spent his entire career in his native country, and he has won multiple titles with Zalgiris and Suduva while also featuring in the Europa League. He has yet to make a senior appearance for Lithuania but has been on the bench for six matches down the years. DOMINYKAS BARAUSKAS DEFENDER RITERIAI AGE 24 CAPS 2 GOALS 0 Having represented Lithuania at various youth levels, Barauskas made his senior international debut against Northern Ireland in September, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute during the 4-1 victory for Ian Baraclough’s side. After starting his career at Zalgiris, Barauskas moved to Suduva and has spent the past three seasons with Riteriai. BENAS ŠATKUS DEFENDER NÜRNBERG AGE 20 CAPS 5 GOALS 0 Youngster Satkus plays his club football in Germany and has been playing for Nurnberg II recently. He made his debut in a 2019 friendly against New Zealand and has been a regular in this World Cup qualifying campaign. He started as one of the centre backs in the 4-1 loss to Northern Ireland in September IGNAS PLŪKAS GOALKEEPER

TITAS KRAPIKAS GOALKEEPER TERNANA CALCIO

EDVINAS GERTMONAS GOALKEEPER ŽALGIRIS AGE 25 CAPS 1 GOALS 0 Gertmonas is the first choice goalkeeper for Lithuanian high-fliers Zalgiris, with whom he won an A Lyga title in 2020. He previously spent time with French club Rennes. The keeper’s only senior international appearance to date came back in 2015 when Lithuania lost 2-0 to Malta in a friendly.

AGE 22 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 Former Sampdoria youth

product who was a regular on the bench for the Serie A club as a teenager. Now plays his club football in Italy’s second tier with Ternana Calcio. Krapikas has represented Lithuania at various youth levels but has yet to win his first senior cap.

VYTAS GAŠPUITIS DEFENDER DUNFERMLINE

EGIDIJUS VAITKŪNAS DEFENDER KAUNO ŽALGIRIS AGE 33 CAPS 58 GOALS 0

AGE 27 CAPS 7 GOALS 0 Towering central defender Gaspuitis plays his football in Scotland after signing for Dunfermline in February 2021. He made his debut for Lithuania in November 2020 and has appeared in three World Cup qualifiers to date. He has previously cited Italy and AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini as his idol.

Vastly experienced right back who plays for Kauno Zalgiris having previously won multiple titles with Zalgiris. Vaitkunas has previously played in both the Czech Republic and Belarus. Won his first cap back in 2012 and has started three World Cup qualifiers, picking up two yellow cards along the way.

EDVINAS GIRDVAINIS DEFENDER KAUNO ŽALGIRIS

DOMANTAS ŠIMKUS DEFENDER SABAIL AGE 25 CAPS 21 GOALS 0 Goals 0

AGE 28 CAPS 34 GOALS 0 Well-travelled centre back who has played club football for teams in Lithuania, Spain, Poland, Russia, Azerbaijan, Latvia and Germany. Girdvainis made his senior Lithuania debut against Romania in 2016. He has made two starts in the World Cup qualification campaign so far in the defeats to Switzerland and Italy. GIEDRIUS MATULEVICIUS MIDFIELD SŪDUVA AGE 24 CAPS 3 GOALS 0 A late call-up to the squad after former Hibernian midfielder Vykintas Slivka withdrew through injury. Matulevicius’ three caps were won between 2018 and 2019 and this is his first inclusion in a squad for these World Cup qualifiers. Has won three A Lyga titles with Suduva.

Simkus helped Zalgiris to a league title then moved to Israel before joining Sabail in Azerbaijan. He represented Lithuania at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level before making his bow for the senior side in November 2018. Has appeared in three of his country’s World Cup qualifiers to date.

LINAS MĖGELAITIS MIDFIELD VITERBESE AGE 23 CAPS 8 GOALS 0

Megelaitis has spent his entire career in Italy and currently plies his trade for Serie C outfit Viterbese. He represented Lithuania at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level before making it to the senior set-up. Made his first appearance for the seniors a year ago in a 2-1 friendly victory over Faroe Islands.

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MARTYNAS DAPKUS MIDFIELD KAUNO ŽALGIRIS

OVIDIJUS VERBICKAS MIDFIELD ŽALGIRIS

ARVYDAS NOVIKOVAS MIDFIELD ERZURUMSPOR BB

AGE 28 CAPS 15 GOALS 0 Dapkus came through the national academy in Kaunas and eventually moved to Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa. Now with Kauno Zalgiris, for whom he has scored two league goals in 2021. Made his international debut in 2017 and has appeared in four of the European Group C World Cup qualifiers so far.

AGE 28 CAPS 29 GOALS 1 Verbickas began his career in the academy at Zenit St Petersburg and has played club football in Spain, Lithuania and Kazakhstan. He was voted the A Lyga Player of the Year in 2018, the same year he scored his only international goal in a 1-0 victory over Armenia. Has appeared in five World Cup qualifiers. DONATAS KAZLAUSKAS MIDFIELD ACADEMICA CLINCENI AGE 27 CAPS 29 GOALS 2 Wide man who plays his club football in Romania. Was voted the Youth Lithuanian Footballer of the Year in 2014 after scoring 12 times in 23 games for Atlantas. Later moved to Poland and has also spent time in Ukraine. He made his international debut in 2014 and his two goals came in 2019 and 2020.

AGE 30 CAPS 75 GOALS 12 Winger who has the second- most goals for Lithuania, trailing only Tomas Danilevicius’ 19 strikes. He joined Hearts in 2008 and later moved to St Johnstone and then to clubs in Germany, Poland and Turkey. Novikovas represented Lithuania Under- 21s as a 16-year-old and won his first senior cap in 2010.

JUSTAS LASICKAS MIDFIELD VOŽDOVAC AGE 24 CAPS 28 GOALS 1 Lasickas plays his club football in Serbia after

ERNESTAS VELIULIS MIDFIELD PANEVĖŽYS AGE 29 CAPS 3 GOALS 0

Veliulis represented Lithuania at Under-17 and Under-21 level and then won his first senior cap in 2016 as a substitute in a loss to Romania. An A Lyga winner in 2017, he has twice hit double figures in goals in the division – in 2014 and 2015 – while he has also previously spent time playing in Latvia.

coming through the academy at Zalgiris Vilnius. The three- time A Lyga winner represented his country at Under-19 and Under-21 level and made his senior debut in 2018. Lasickas’ first international goal came in last month’s 3-1 win over Bulgaria. FEDOR ČERNYCH FORWARD JAGIELLONIA AGE 30 CAPS 69 GOALS 11 Born in Russia, Cernych started his senior career in Belarus and was a prolific goalscorer in Poland. Moved to Dynamo Moscow but now back in the Polish top flight. A two-time Lithuanian Footballer of the Year in 2016 and 2017, he bagged a brace in last month’s win over Bulgaria. AGE 26 CAPS 1 GOALS 0 Armanavicius only made his senior international debut last month as a late substitute in the 4-0 loss to Switzerland. Prior to that he had featured for his country at Under-19 and Under-21 level. A regular for A Lyga side Hegelmann Litauen, he has scored six times in 32 league appearances this term. VILIUS ARMANAVIČIUS FORWARD FC HEGELMANN

EDGARAS DUBICKAS FORWARD PIACENZA CALCIO AGE 23 CAPS 5 GOALS 0

KAROLIS LAUKŽEMIS FORWARD KAISAR AGE 29 CAPS 23 GOALS 2

Another who plays his club football in Italy, Dubickas’ former clubs include Lecce and Livorno. Having previously

Nomadic striker who has played for clubs in Lithuania, Latvia, Croatia, Slovenia, Malta and now Kazakhstan. Has been in good form having scored eight times in 25 league appearances this term. Laukzemis made his international debut in 2018 and he started both of the World Cup qualifiers last month.

represented Lithuania at Under-21 level, Dubickas

made his senior debut in a 4-0 friendly loss to Spain in June 2021. Started three World Cup qualifiers in September, including the game against Northern Ireland. ARMANDAS KUČYS FORWARD KALMAR AGE 18 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 The new name in this Lithuania squad. Kucys plays his club football in Sweden and the teenager has been called up to his country’s senior squad for the first time. He is the son of Aurimas Kucys, who won 17 caps for his country between 2002 and 2009 and still plays today in Latvia.

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WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

FACT FILE: LITHUANIA

• In 1924 Lithuania entered the Olympics in France but they were beaten 9-0 by Switzerland, who made it all the way to the final where they were beaten by Uruguay. • Also in 1924 Lithuania suffered what remains their record defeat – a 10-0 thrashing by Eg ypt . • The country was annexed by the USSR in 1940 and only regained independence in 1990. • Lithuania have regularly faced Latvia and Estonia in the Baltic Cup. The Lithuanians won their first Baltic Cup in 1930 and have won the tournament on 10 occasions, second only to Latvia’s 13. Their most recent triumph came in 2010. • Viaceslavas Sukristovas, who later won 26 caps for Lithuania between 1990 and 1997, was part of the USSR squad that finished as runners-up at Euro 1988. • Narbekovas and Arvydas Janonis were both part of the USSR squad which claimed Olympic gold at the Seoul Olympics. • In the first friendly after the country regained independence Narbekovas scored their first goal in a 2-2 draw with Georgia in Tbilisi on 27 May 1990. • Their first competitive game following independence was the 2-2 draw with Northern Ireland in Belfast . • Lithuania have never qualified for a World Cup finals or a European Championship finals. Their record in 11 World Cup qualifying campaigns is 17 victories, 16 draws and 40 defeats from their 73 games. Their record in seven European Championship qualifying campaigns is 20 victories, nine draws and 37 losses in their 66 games. • Lithuania have recorded some impressive results over the years, including a 0-0 draw with Italy in 2001. The Italian side that evening featured greats like Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro and Francesco Totti. • Two years later the Lithuanians drew 1-1 against Germany in Nurnberg. Tomas Razanauskas scored their goal . • In 2006 Lithuania held Italy again – this time to a 1-1 draw in Naples. Their goalscorer that day was the country’s all-time top scorer Tomas Danilevicius, who made two appearances for Premier League side Arsenal and was later at Dunfermline. After retirement he became president of the Lithuanian Football Federation.

INTERNATIONAL • Northern Ireland face Lithuania hoping to maintain their unbeaten record against the country after winning two and drawing one of their three games to date. • The first game between the two nations took place in April 1992 when Northern Ireland faced them in Lithuania’s first World Cup qualifier after becoming an independent country once again (following dissolution of Soviet Union) . Goals from Kevin Wilson and Gerry Taggart put Northern Ireland two up inside the opening 16 minutes, however Lithuania fought back with goals either side of half-time from Arminas Narbekovas and Robertas Fridrikas to draw 2-2. • The two nations met again in May 1993 in Vilnius and an eighth minute goal from Iain Dowie – his second for his country – earned Northern Ireland the victory. • Ian Baraclough’s side claimed their first victory of these World Cup qualifiers when winning 4-1 in Vilnius in September. Both Conor Washington and Paddy McNair scored from the spot , while Daniel Ballard and Shayne Lavery netted their first international goals. Bailey Peacock-Farrell made a crucial save from Arvydas Novikovas’ penalty. • That game, like all of Lithuania’s current home games, was played at the Lithuanian Football Federation Stadium, a 5,067-capacity ground which has an artificial surface. • Plans are afoot for a new 15,000-seater stadium to be built in Vilnius which is expected to be completed by 2025. • The first recorded match to take place in Lithuania occurred in 1911 - and in 1923 the Lithuanian Sports League was admitted to FIFA. That same year Lithuania played their first international as an independent state when they were beaten 5-0 by Estonia in Kaunas.

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DOMESTIC • The A Lyga – the top tier of domestic football in Lithuania – has been considered a professional league since 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. • Seasons typically run from March until the end of November and the 2021 campaign features 10 clubs. • Zalgiris won the 2020 A Lyga – their eighth league championship triumph – though only six clubs competed after one side folded and another two were disqualified following an investigation into match-fixing allegations. • Zalgiris, who are based in Vilnius, are the competition’s most successful side. Apart from winning eight titles – including the very first in 1991 – they have finished as runners-up on 11 occasions. • A Zalgiris player has finished as top scorer in each of the last five seasons, although these have been five different players from five different counties. • Zalgiris scored 106 goals in 28 games during the 1995-96 season, with Edgaras Jankauskas scoring a league high 25, but they only finished third in the eventual standings. • Zalgiris faced Linfield in the first round of qualifying for this season’s UEFA Champions League. After losing 3-1 in Lithuania, David Healy’s side went down 5-2 on aggregate after being beaten 2-1 in Belfast . Zalgiris finished that game with just nine men after two late red cards. However, the Lithuanian outfit were knocked out in the very next round by Hungarians Ferencvaros. • They also played against Portadown in the qualifying round for the 2004-05 UEFA Cup – winning 4-2 on aggregate – and the following season Zalgiris eliminated Lisburn Distillery in the Intertoto Cup.

• Edgaras Jankauskas became the first Lithuanian to win the Champions League when he was part of Jose Mourinho’s Porto side that won the tournament in 2004. Jankauskas was named the Lithuanian Player of the Year on five occasions. • Only two managers in Lithuania’s history have not been Lithuanian. The first was Jose Couceiro, who had been in charge of FBK Kaunas in the country’s top domestic league. The second was Csaba Laszlo, who has also been in charge of Scottish sides Hearts and Dundee United. • In the most recent FIFA World Rankings, Lithuania were 135th, directly below Togo and directly above Latvia. Their highest ranking was 37th, which they achieved in October 2008.

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