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After the World Cup qualifying match of the Lithuanian national team against the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team at the "Vėtra" stadium in Vilnius, a press conference took place, attended by the coaches of both teams - Lithuanian strategist Algimantas Liubinskas and Bosnian head coach Blažo Sliškovičius.
After the match, A. Liubinskas stated that blame should first and foremost be placed on themselves. The coach emphasized that players have the desire to fight, but lack mastery.
"If you want to win, you need to score. We were unable to do that and that is our problem. I have no complaints about the players' efforts and desire. I do not want to make excuses, I do not want to make excuses for the team, but today we gave everything we were capable of giving. There was a lack of mastery. We played against a team that has that mastery. If we compared players based on how much they earn in their clubs - we would get to one goal. But clubs pay players for their mastery," A. Liubinskas said.
"Our team is at the beginning of the journey, especially the youth. They stir up a lot, but there is a lack of logical conclusion. It still needs to grow. We want to be good, we really want to, but apparently, for now we are not capable of achieving the highest goals. It is very painful, unpleasant, sad, but the fact is a fact. We need strikers, combination players to grow in Lithuania. Evaluate whether we are on the right path. I think we are," he added.
A. Liubinskas confirmed that the goals of the Lithuanian national team for the remaining World Cup qualifying matches against Serbia, Montenegro, and Belgium remain unchanged - to seek victory.
"The goals remain the same - to seek points, to seek victory. We must find ways to do that. Perhaps we will focus more on younger players who we need to introduce to the national team. Today we tested Savėnas. Whether it is a long-term product or not, the future will show," A. Liubinskas said.
The coach agrees that the Lithuanian national team has an obvious problem not only with strikers but also with organizing midfielders.
"What do we have? In the offense - Jankauskas, Poškus, Danilevičius. That's it. We've already seen Radzinevičius' potential. Pilibaitis is starting to play, but he is only nineteen. There is a lack of a creating player who would take the game by the scruff of the neck and conduct it. Perhaps Kalonas from the youth national team will merge in the future, as well as Miceika. Panka is more of a central defensive-minded player," A. Liubinskas spoke about the national team's prospects.
Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina's head coach B. Sliškovičius said that his players achieved what was set out before the match.
"It was a difficult and important match for both teams. It was especially important for us not to concede a goal in the first half of the first half. We were waiting for an opportunity to score, and finally we achieved it. The Lithuanians had several great chances, so the result could have been different. However, my men really wanted the victory and just for that, they deserve it," B. Sliškovičius said.
By the way, the Bosnian coach added that, in his opinion, the game in these matches corresponded to the principles of "Fair Play."
