2022-08-28 17:35
Photo by E. Žaldaris.
With just 10 days to go until the 2022 Socca Futsal World Championship, the Lithuanian futsal team is gearing up for the World Championships to be held on September 10-18 in Budapest, the capital of the country. Hungary.
Lithuania, ranked 20th in the national team, will play in Group C alongside Poland, Slovenia, Morocco and Costa Rica.
This will be the second world championship for Lithuania. For the first time our country played in the 2019 World Cup in Rethymnon on the island of Crete.
This time, the first appearance was not really light and the appearance of the Lithuanian national team was successful. The Lithuanian youth football team has more experience in the international arena, so we ask you to remember how Lithuania has been successful so far.
European Championship
The Lithuanian youth football team first appeared at the 2013 European Championships in Rethymno, already mentioned, but then the first appearance was disappointing.
Although in their first match, the Lithuanian youth football team drew 1: 1 with Italy, but then lost 0: 2 to the Czech Republic and even lost 0: 6 to Turkey. With one point left, Lithuania did not advance to the Playoffs and finished in the group stage.
In 2014, the Lithuanian futsal team traveled to Igalo, Montenegro, where the European Futsal Championship was held.
Here Lithuania failed to win all the points and lost all three games. Lithuania did not face Greece 0: 5, Romania beat Lithuania 8: 0 and Slovenia won 5: 2.
In 2015, Lithuania finally achieved its first victory at the European Championships. In the championship held in Croatia, Lithuania won the third match in the group. Lithuania lost the first match to hosts Croatia 1: 7, lost to Israel 1: 3 in the second match but won the last match 7: 1 with Luxembourg. However, with three points, Lithuania remained third in the group and did not qualify again.
We can consider 2016 to be the most successful match in the European Championships. At the European Championships held in Hungary, Lithuania not only fought against a powerful opponent, but also won a historic victory.
In their first match, the Lithuanian youth football team lost to Spain 1: 3 in the next match, after a hard fight, they lost to the powerful Romanian team 1: 2, and in the third match of They, they defeated the French team. You play football 3: 2 and win history. However, one victory was not enough to advance to the next round and the team barrier in the European Championships remained unbeaten for Lithuania.
2016 was the last year that Lithuania played in the European Championships. For some reason, Lithuania missed out on the 2017 European Championships and in 2018 it has already moved from the European Futsal Federation to the Socca Federation, where it competes in the World Championships organized by.
Baltic Minor Football
As Lithuania began to participate in the European Championships, the idea of organizing the Baltic Futsal Championships soon arose, which would serve as the venue for the European Championships.
The first such championship was held in 2015 in Vilnius. In that, Lithuania still did not win – it lost to Latvia 1: 2 and played 3: 3 with Estonia, which then beat Latvia and won the first Baltic mini-football title.
In 2016, the championship was held in Tallinn, where the Lithuanian youth football team failed to win any points. Lithuania lost to Latvia 3: 5 and Estonia 0: 1 to win the Baltic title again.
In 2017, the Baltic Minor football tournament was held in Riga, the capital of Latvia, but new guests were also welcomed here. In addition to the three Baltic states, the German national team competed for the Baltic title and became the tournament champion.
They lost to Lithuania 1: 3, then they lost to Latvia 0: 2, but Lithuania defeated Estonia 6: 1.
The moment of victory for Lithuania dawned in 2018 when the Baltic Minor football tournament was held in Alytus. One goal was enough for Lithuania to win in this city.
Paulius Sakalis’ right goal against Estonia gave Lithuania a 1-0 victory and a draw with Latvia put Lithuania in first place with four points and their first Baltic Cup win. History.
World Championship
As can be read above, Lithuania made its debut at the Socca Mini-Football World Championship in 2019 and recorded its best result in the competition of this category.
In the first World Cup, Lithuania beat Belgium 3-0. A great start gave the momentum in the second game as well, in which Lithuania even beat the Moroccan footballers 6-0, which they will play again this year.
In the third match of the group stage, Lithuania showed great character and in the last minute of the match Aivydas Ruškys sent the ball into the goal of Wales and helped Lithuania to win 2: 1.
All three victories secured Lithuania second in the group and a place in the round of 16. World Championships. Of course, the final of the group stages was less successful as they lost 0: 6 to world champions Poland, who will already be seeking revenge this year.
In the round of 16, the Lithuanian national team clashed with English footballers. After a relentless battle, England lost 0: 2, so Lithuania ended their first appearance at the World Cup in the 16th round.
Due to the global epidemic, the World Cup, which has been absent for many years, will return this year. Having drastically changed and refreshed their composition, the Budapest national team will also aim to win the group stage and ultimately improve their performance from what has been achieved. In 2019.
Composition of the Lithuanian Junior Football Team in 2022. For the Socca World Championship (September 10-18, Budapest):
Goalkeeper: Titas Vitkauskas (No. 1), Mantas Šumskis (No. 77).
Defenders: Deividas Gineitis (No. 2), Marius Linkevičius (No. 3), Matas Venslauskas (No. 4), Mindaugas Zlatkus (No. 9).
Security: Matas Radžiukynas (No. 5), Arnas Levonauskas (No. 8), Augustas Trinkūnas (No. 11).
Forward: Laurynas Danielius (No. 7), Paulius Sirotavičius (No. 10).
Coach: Mindaugas Grigalevičius (coach), Giedrius Brazaitis (assistant coach).
Lithuanian Small Football Team | Organizer photo.
Schedule of the group stage of the Lithuanian Junior Football Team:
September 10: Lithuania – Morocco (14:00 Lithuanian time)
September 13: Lithuania – Costa Rica (12:00 Lithuania)
September 14 – Slovenia Lithuania (15:00 Lithuanian time)
September 15 – Poland Lithuania (20:00 Lithuania)