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"Žalgiris" game - a herald of football revival in Lithuania. This is evidenced by the full grandstands of LFF stadium during the Europa League qualification matches.
Vilnius and Lithuania are awaiting another football celebration. After a victorious duel with Poznan's "Lech" (Poland) - the third consecutive opponent in the Europa League qualification - "Žalgiris" footballers paved their way to the main knockout matches of the tournament, where they will face Zalzburg's "Red Bull" (Austria).
Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming battles, it can be said that the European season was incredibly successful for "Žalgiris". What the people from Vilnius have achieved has never been done before by any club in the country. Overcoming three continental tournament qualification stages in a row, excluding the previously existing lower-tier "Intertoto" competition, is a feat that Lithuanian teams had not accomplished before.
"Žalgiris" game - a herald of football revival in Lithuania. This is evidenced by the full LFF stadium grandstands during the Europa League qualification matches, and the numbers, which leave no doubt - you don't necessarily have to be rich and powerful to play successfully.
"Lech", defeated by "Žalgiris", added 2.5 million pounds sterling to their treasury before this season in one deal - by selling midfielder Aleksandar Tonev to Birmingham's "Aston Villa" club. The Polish team received exactly that amount for the Bulgarian transferred to England. This sum is significantly higher than "Žalgiris" annual budget. But it is not money that plays football.
"Žalgiris", operating on modest amounts by European standards, managed to find elements that formed the formula of success. Coach Marekas Zubas proved that he is a strong tactician. The team's players are not only diligent executors of instructions and relentless fighters, but also a team. They are united both on the field and off it.
The shameful performance of wealthy "Lech" in Europe this season will mainly be remembered by its fans with a posters in "Inea" stadium tribunes. Before this - not particularly large in size and caused by international noise - match accessory of blank faces and coach Mariusz Rumak's arrogance before the duel with "Žalgiris", and his team's unsuccessful attempts to play football in Vilnius and Poznan.
Europa League celebration in Poznan ended this year. For Vilnius - it continues. Good results have already allowed the club to earn more than half a million euros. If they manage to cross the Austrian barrier and enter the group stage, this amount will easily jump into the seven-digit zone.
But for the green and white supporters, the most important thing right now is not to think about that. The most important thing now is to enjoy. To enjoy the game of a good team and the fact that the European dream of 'Žalgiris' remains alive.
