Northern Ireland v Lithuania (12/11/2021)

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.

IRISHFA.COM

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