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The Lithuanian national team set off for Malta, where on Wednesday they will play a friendly match against the local representative team. Prior to departure, in a press conference, the head Lithuanian coach Algimantas Liubinskas explained his selection and emphasized that the team is the most important. In the announced list of the traveling team by the Lithuanian Football Federation, compared to the previously announced, the number of players decreased from 24 to 18. Legionnaires Deividas Šemberas, Saulius Mikoliūnas, Deividas Česnauskis, Edgaras Jankauskas, Aivaras Laurišas, and Giedrius Klevinskas, who were in the preliminary composition of the team led by Algimantas Liubinskas, will not go to Malta. However, it was revealed that Edinburgh "Hearts" defender Nerijus Barasa will join the team instead. At the press conference, LFF President Liutauras Varanavičius wished the team success, but he and General Director Julius Kvedaras did not travel to Malta because they will participate in a deliberation on the New Vilnius project at the city municipality on Wednesday. According to L. Varanavičius, after the match with Malta, it will finally be clear whether the friendly match with Saudi Arabia planned for December will actually take place. Meanwhile, the head coach of the national team, Algimantas Liubinskas, said at the press conference that the coaching staff was forced to reformat certain aspects of the team - only the defensive line will remain unchanged. "Karčemarskas - injured. During training for the matches with the Faroe Islands, he felt muscle pain in his leg. However, Malinauskas also has international competition experience, so it is not the worst option. Grybauskas seems 'frozen' at 'Ekranas', so this trip will be very beneficial for him," said the coach. "We have to look to the future, look at which players can represent the team in the future. That's why after a longer break, Pilibaitis was invited back to the team. In addition, there is a shortage of full-backs in the team. Žvirgždaukas is not on the list because his abilities are well known to coaches. Skerla is waiting an important match at the club, and Poškus has not yet recovered from injury," explained A. Liubinskas. "Edgaras Česnauskis? The media blew it out of proportion; the press is annoying the player. We are building a team, not individual players. He wants to play for the national team, but lacks activity and communication - he is currently in Lithuania, but has not informed the team managers or coaches about it. But his path to the team is always open," continued the Lithuanian national team strategist. "Velička is scoring goals and playing well in Scotland. In the future, he will certainly be called up to the national team. Savėnas has lost form, but that doesn't mean we won't invite him for the qualifying cycle matches. Jankauskas, as always, is eager to play for the national team, but is still recovering from injury. Substitutions are possible in the friendly matches, so we will likely use all of them. We are preparing to play active football and do not intend to change our tactics," emphasized A. Liubinskas. On November 15, Wednesday, at 3pm Lithuanian time, the match will be broadcasted live on the "5 channel". Composition of the Lithuanian national team for the match against Malta Goalkeepers: 1. Mindaugas Malinauskas ("Kaunas") 2. Paulius Grybauskas (Panevėžys "Ekranas") Defenders: 3. Marius Stankevičius ("Brescia", Italy) 4. Andrius Skerla (Tomsk "Tom", Russia) 5. Rolandas Džiaukštas (Ramenskoye "Saturn", Russia) 6. Gediminas Paulauskas (Panevėžys "Ekranas") 7. Darius Žutautas (Klaipėda "Atlantas") 8. Nerijus Barasa (Edinburgh "Hearts", Scotland) Midfielders: 9. Mindaugas Kalonas (Liepāja "Metalurgs", Latvia) 10. Darius Miceika (Liepāja "Metalurgs", Latvia) 11. Andrius Gedgaudas (Klaipėda "Atlantas") 12. Linas Pilibaitis ("Kaunas") 13. Vitalijus Kavaliauskas (Panevėžys "Ekranas") 14. Igoris Morinas (Vilnius "Žalgiris") 15. Aidas Preikšaitis (Vilnius "Vėtra") Forwards: 16. Tomas Danilevičius ("Livorno", Italy) 17. Tomas Radzinevičius ("Kladno", Czech Republic) 18. Ričardas Beniušis ("Kaunas")
