© EuroFootball.com
An impressive attacking performance showcasing a lot of talent from well-known clubs, and a twelfth player - a sold-out stadium with almost 15 thousand passionate fans. With such difficulties, on Tuesday evening, the Lithuanian national football team will have to face Zenica in a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Attack - the opponent's strong side
The most challenging question for the Lithuanian team will be how to tame the impressive Bosnian attacking machine, led by Edin Dzeko, Vedad Ibisevic, Zvjezdan Misimovic, and company, which performed brilliantly in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scoring eight goals against Liechtenstein and four against Latvia, making Bosnia and Herzegovina the leader of the group. Only in the last match did they fail to score, against the strong defense of Greece.
"The Bosnians have very good attacking players. In recent years, this team has improved significantly and is one of the strongest in the group," said Csaba Laszlo, the head coach of the Lithuanian national team. "It's not a coincidence that they scored so many goals. They pass the ball quickly and play well one-on-one."
"These matches will be much tougher than in Liechtenstein. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very serious opponent, with top-level players. They try to attack aggressively, press the opponents near their goal, and don't allow easy ball possession," added defender Tadas Kijanskas.
According to Cs. Laszlo, Lithuanians will try to take advantage of the opponent's weaknesses. "We need to play very compactly and not give them space. We must not lose the ball too early."
According to T. Kijanskas, our advantage could be set-pieces. "We have a chance after free kicks and corners. That's probably the opponent's weaker points, as they pay more attention to their attack."
Looking for new reserves
The Lithuanian footballers prepared for the match against the Bosnians without some key players - the Cesnauskas brothers and Saulius Mikoliunas.
"It's really bad news. I think the rule of two yellow cards is too harsh, especially for teams with limited choices like ours," said Cs. Laszlo. "On the other hand, it's an opportunity to show those players who have been on the bench so far. I hope they can play well."
One of those players is Marius Stankevicius. The veteran of the national team missed the first two qualifying matches and only played in the match against Liechtenstein at the end, as he lacked playing practice after a six-month break due to injury. Nevertheless, he is now one of the few able to play in the right-back position or on the edge of the defensive line.
If he takes to the field, M. Stankevicius will most likely face directly his another player from the Italian club "Lazio," Senad Lulic. "There are no friends on the field, we are opponents and I will try to do my job for my country. We joked about the match between us - who will win, who will lose. They are determined to crush us. We will try to prevent that," said M. Stankevicius.
The fortress of the Bosnian home
The Lithuanian footballers trained at the "Bilino Polje" stadium in Zenica on the eve of the match, where the game will take place. The stadium can accommodate more than 15 thousand spectators. In this aspect, the stadium is not the largest in the country and also does not stand out for its modernity, as it was built 40 years ago.
However, Bosnia and Herzegovina almost always play their home matches here because the stands right next to the field create an impressive atmosphere. Bosnia has not lost at the "Bilino Polje" stadium from 1995 to 2006 and suffered only five losses in 26 official matches there. In August, the stadium was equipped with a new pitch.
On Tuesday evening, "Bilino Polje" will be full, so the Lithuanian national team will have to withstand considerable pressure. "People here are crazy about football, especially when it comes to the national team, which is number one. The fans are very emotional and loud. Even in Switzerland, where I watched Bosnia's friendly match against Brazil, there were many passionate fans," said Cs. Laszlo.
The hosts have no doubt about success
According to one Bosnian journalist, the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team is preparing for these matches in full force and has no losses. The local press speaks respectfully about the Lithuanian national team and expects a tough fight. However, ordinary football fans have no doubt about their team's victory and speculate on what kind of result their beloved team will achieve.
Three points are essential for Bosnia to continue to fight for the desired first place in the group and avoid previous disappointments. In the past two qualifying cycles for the World and European Championships, Bosnia and Herzegovina finished second in the groups and twice had to admit Portugal's superiority in the playoffs.
The match will be officiated by a referee team from the Czech Republic, with Miroslav Zelinka as the referee. The match will start at 21:00 Lithuanian time and will be broadcast live on the "Lietuvos rytas" TV channel.
