Northern Ireland v Lithuania (12/11/2021)

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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NIR V LTU