New look to Lithuania
Monday, March 10, 2003
Article summary
New Lithuania coach Algimantas Liubinskas has made changes for the qualifiers against Germany and Scotland.
Article body
Back in favour
Halmstads BK's Tomas Zvirgzdauskas is back after a three-year absence to reinforce a defence breached three times by Iceland during the defeat in Reykjavik last October. Other returnees include midfield players Orestas Buitkus from FC Skonto, Igoris Morinas of 1. FSV Mainz 05, and Darius Maciulevicius, a player with newly promoted Lithuanian side FK Sviesa Vilnius.
Free agents
Liubinskas has also selected Saulius Mikalajunas and Nerijus Barasa, both of whom are currently without a club. Lithuania, who are second from bottom of Group 5, face Germany in Nürnberg on 29 March before hosting Scotland in Kaunas four days later.
Mixed fortunes
"We still have a chance to qualify. We need to beat Scotland at home, and will also do our best to pick up points in Germany," said Liubinskas, who was appointed national coach for a second time after Benjaminas Zelkevicius resigned in February. Lithuania have taken three points from three qualifying games, a home victory against the Faroe Islands sandwiched by defeats against Germany and Iceland.
Lithuania squad
Stauce, Karcemarskas, Kurskis, Skerla, Skarbalius, Semberas, Dedura, Zvirgzdauskas, Gleveckas, Dziaukstas, Zutautas, Morinas, Razanauskas, Mikalajunas, Buitkus, Maciulevicius, Papeckys, Barasa, Jankauskas, Poskus, Fomenko.
