Let's assume that scouts and coaches from the "Hannover 96" club participating in the German "Bundesliga" are idiots, and the coaches of the Lithuanian national team (or more precisely, the leaders of the Lithuanian Football Federation) are geniuses. Agree that there is no other explanation when a player unsuitable for the hundredth national team represents one of the strongest clubs in Europe.
Last season, Marius Stankevičius, one of the best Lithuanian footballers of all time who played for the Turkish club "Gaziantepspor," was "suspended" from the national team due to "youth rejuvenation" two years ago. Even being offered a contract by a "Bundesliga" club at the age of 33 (!) did not convince the national team coaches.
Now, a player self-proclaimed as the "past of Lithuanian football" in an interview with SPORT1 television looks ironically at many things. However, he could not hide the pain due to the chaos in the Lithuanian national team.
We started the conversation with the national team coach Stasys Baranauskas' interview, in which M. Stankevičius was also mentioned.
"M. Stankevičius has also contributed a lot to Lithuanian football, representing the national team for many years without sparing himself. However, constantly staying at the top is very difficult. Moreover, about three years ago his career was severely affected by a serious injury. This also has its consequences. We all wish it were different, but the fact is that this season M. Stankevičius played only one match and did not finish it due to injury," - S. Baranauskas told lff.lt.
-After a longer pause, at least in the article, you were mentioned by the national team coach Stasys Baranauskas. Tell me, what emotions did you have when reading all this?
-First of all, I don't understand why current national team coaches are trying to measure up to the previous ones, who only spoke just to speak, and their words had no basis.
-Second, if they want to say something specific about me, let them call me and I will say it. Now, neither they asked me how I feel, nor do they know what has happened to me or what has been to me. I simply do not understand how that person can comment on my injury when he knows nothing about it.
-Third, if the national team coaches think I am a bad player, do not meet the national team's level, then they should say so. It's easy to say: he played only one match in the 'Bundesliga' this season, so he is not suitable. And everyone will understand why I am not called up. On the other hand, last year in Turkey, I played all the matches.
- Do you regret speaking?
- Why should I regret? I didn't say anything bad - I told the truth as it is. By the way, I will also say this about the current national team head coach - I respect him because he prefers not to say anything rather than talk nonsense. I remember one press conference where he decided not to comment at all on why one player or another was not in the team. The coach selects players, deals with them, and then is responsible for the results.
- How do you view Lithuania's national team matches now?
- The national team is the national team, so I will always respect it and always support it. I sincerely want a better generation to come than the one that was. I want Lithuanian football to grow, but it feels like we are standing still or going down.
- What were the England-Lithuania matches like from abroad?
- It must be admitted that playing against the English is very difficult, so it is difficult to comment on anything. Now I could not say things that were bad or good.
- Were there at least some good things?
- I don't know. Many people were positively inclined before the match that we would do something good. But it turned out as always. I don't want to talk about it, but I can't help but say. In the team, I still see D. Šemberas, who is the best Lithuanian player. But he is not there, and those who play in his place - we all saw. What more can I say?
- Maybe it's about rejuvenating the national team?
- I already understood that they are trying to rejuvenate it, but I still don't understand how and with what? I noticed that there are also young angry players who are not invited anymore. It doesn't matter that the player has never played 90 minutes in his club career, but he is already angry.
- It sounds like you're ironic...
- I look at those things with a smile. You have to look at everything realistically and respect each other. Indeed, you want understanding from all sides to achieve the goal together. Not like the player has played for fifteen years in the national team, and someone decided that it was time for him to retire. It feels like the player has no say.
- Speaking of reaching a goal. Do you know what that goal is?
- I'm talking about wanting the goals to be common. What they are now, I really don't know. It seems that the federation is trying to improve something, but for me living abroad, it is difficult to see those things.
- Let's go back to the England-Lithuania matches. Did you talk about them with your club friends?
- We laughed more than talked. Or rather, my teammates laughed at me. I came to practice, and they show me four raised fingers and ask, 'what happened?' That's the conversation.
Regardless of my absence in the national team, I am Lithuanian. I really don't want it to sound like I or another player, who wasn't there, could have made a big difference and we would have won. We are not Maradonas or Ronaldos. But I am Lithuanian, so I also have to take responsibility. And that responsibility is reminded by my friends.
Aurimas Budraitis, SPORT1 TV
