© EuroFootball.com
Approaching the end of the World Cup qualifying cycle, a press conference was held today in Vilnius, attended by LFF President Liutauras Varanavicius and Lithuania's national football team strategist Algimantas Liubinskas.
"The matches against Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina left us disappointed," started the press conference L.Varanavicius. "The situation is simple - the players in the national team now have to prove that they want and can play. We understand that in the qualifiers, we only have theoretical chances, achieving anything is no longer possible."
Further, L.Varanavicius and A.Liubinskas discussed a meeting with the Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Brazauskas, where the renovation of the "Žalgiris" stadium was discussed, and a plan was considered to renovate the unfinished stadium in Šeškinė into a football complex, consisting of five football fields and an administrative building. A.Liubinskas added that he would like to establish an athletics arena nearby.
L.Varanavicius stated that regardless of other projects, the New Vilnius project will be implemented. "We have already gone through bureaucratic channels. Next week, the Vilnius City Council should consider the detailed plan. In New Vilnius, a federation base would be established."
The LFF president stated that the fate of the "Žalgiris" stadium is not yet fully clear, but there is a final deadline by which the stadium must be renovated - by May 2009.
A.Liubinskas, speaking further, said that during this World Cup qualifying cycle, 10 main players of the team have changed, and the main reason for failures is the lack of playing experience among the national team members.
"The situation is such that we wanted a lot, set high goals, had great ambitions, but failed," said the national team strategist. "Our team is perhaps the only one among contenders made up of substitute players. At crucial moments, we lacked playing experience. Some criticized us for having reduced early training sessions, but the players are tired from training in the clubs, not from matches: they train, train, but don't get to play."
"The players have gathered in the team psychologically shattered," A.Liubinskas spoke about the preparation for the remaining matches. "At this moment (the conference took place at 13:00 - ed. note) the players have probably finished playing bowling. This is how we try to restore their psychological balance, raise team spirit."
"We have managed to assemble a team that challenges any national team," continued A.Liubinskas. "The players are still young, capable of playing."
"We had the advantage in the matches against Bosnia, but their first transition to our half ended tragically," analyzed the team's play A.Liubinskas. "We failed to score a goal - but that was due to lack of mastery."
"You can say that I am guilty, but the problem is that the players don't play in the clubs," said the team's coach. "Each player has the desire, but lacks mastery and practice. It would be pointless to destroy the team - it needs nurturing. It is capable not only of being a strong rival to strong teams but also of fighting, winning, and achieving results."
"Why does our youth perform poorly?" rhetorically asked A.Liubinskas. "The main reason is: we don't have facilities. In Vilnius alone, there are about 90 indoor courts for playing basketball, but there is only one football field - the "Vėtra" stadium. I won't even mention the "Žalgiris" stadium. The second problem: some youth coaches and the players themselves are tired of poor conditions. The kids are talented, but the conditions are objective. Why aren't the youth team coaches and their players seen in national team training sessions or in national or Lithuanian championship matches? Personally, I will demand this from the Vilnius football school coaches."
When asked about the two upcoming matches at the Vilnius "Vėtra" stadium on Saturday and Wednesday against Serbia and Montenegro and Belgium, A.Liubinskas admitted that in these matches, the team will still not be able to count on N.Barasa, who has not yet recovered from injury, and two other players also have problems.
Team losses: due to injuries, there is no Skarbaliaus, Gedgaudo, and Barasos. The situation regarding Žvirgždauskas and Poškaus, who feels pain in the Achilles tendon area and will not even be registered for Russian championship matches, is unclear. Due to disqualifications, Edgaras Česnauskis and Deividas Šemberas will not play. All others are training normally.
Asked about the five-match disqualification for disrespectful behavior towards the referee received by E.Česnauskis, A.Liubinskas did not spare criticism: "He is selfish, of a difficult mentality. He thinks he is very good, maybe even at the level of Ronaldo or Ronaldinho, but we consider him just a young and promising footballer. This will be his last lesson. If he does not understand, he will end his career before even starting it."
"If he does not understand his behavior, then 'we do not treat such'," added L.Varanavicius.
Talking about the upcoming two matches, A.Liubinskas said he would be satisfied with "good team play and scored goals."
When asked about possible friendly matches, A.Liubinskas and L.Varanavicius said that only one date for friendly matches is planned for next year, and "Russia and a few other countries owe Lithuania." According to them, potential opponents will be determined after drawing lots for the European Championship qualifiers. Then they will play against national teams promoting football to demonstrate similar gameplay. Additionally, as stated by L.Varanavicius, before the World Cup taking place in Germany next June, the team will certainly receive invitations from participating teams.
"In the world, clubs dictate trends," said A.Liubinskas. "They are reducing the number of international matches, the windows when players can go to national teams. For example, national team members Stankevičius and Danilevičius played in the Italian Serie B yesterday. 'Brescia' lost, but Danilevičius' 'Avellino' won 2-1 - Tomas scored both goals."
L.Varanavicius said that an agreement has almost been reached for a friendly match of Lithuanian and German youth teams in November.
Furthermore, L.Varanavicius, talking about football schools and the education of young players, hinted that from next year, all clubs wishing to obtain licenses must have their own youth academies, and the federation will not tolerate any unclear agreements with football schools.
