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The Lithuanian soccer team attacked more in the second half, but the attacks were unsuccessful in the empty LFF stadium.
According to UEFA demands, in the match without spectators, Kazakhstani goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov, who constantly urged his teammates in Russian with oaths, kept the goal dry, because the Lithuanians themselves fired close to the goal.
“The physical element is just one of several forms. Another thing that doesn’t come up for the first time is the realization of opportunities. When we cannot score a goal, we cannot speak of a positive result. Because competitors are taking advantage of their opportunities, said V. Urbonas. – The dedication of the players, the desire to fight for each ball, to press, is hard physical work, the players did everything, but you have to fill the chances. We are not creating good situations for the first time, but the ball does not end in the net ”.
V. Urbonas believes that the result is not legal.
“I would not agree. We controlled the game, we controlled the situation, we really deserved more. Of course, they are just words, because everything is reflected in the final result, which, unfortunately, is not in our favor,” said the coach of the selection.
He admitted that the goal he fell in the third minute was a nasty cold shower.
“That start was unexpected for us, the goal was lost. In the second half we had good opportunities, the players gave a lot of effort, said V. Urbonas.” The second goal determined the result of the match.
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / UEFA League of Nations: Lithuania – Kazakhstan
The rivals’ goals in the 3rd and 86th minute saddened Saulius Mikoliūnas, who played the 85th match for the national team and improved Andrius Skerla’s match record for the national team.
“It wasn’t because of a single player’s mistake, but at first we hit the ball badly, then one missed, then the second, then I did – a chain formed. An early goal took us out of the crayfish, we had to open up more, S.Mikoliūnas analyzed: “Second goal: we made a quick attack, the player performed perfectly with a shot from 16 meters.”
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / UEFA League of Nations: Lithuania – Kazakhstan
Times have changed since S. Mikoliūnas began his career with the national team 16 years ago, when the Lithuanian team was much stronger, and victories against competitors at the same level as 118th place in the FIFA rankings seemed obvious.
But the 36-year-old veteran said that despite the changing speed and dynamics of football and the series of official matches won by the Lithuanian team since 2016, he still believes.
“If I didn’t believe it, I would have fired the national team. But I feel the coach’s confidence, I feel needed,” said the Vilnius Žalgiris footballer.
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / UEFA League of Nations: Lithuania – Kazakhstan
He held the fight for 90 minutes, unlike the other former member of the national team, Fyodor Chernych, who this time looked pale at the peak of the attack in the first half, when the Lithuanians hardly created opportunities.
“F.Černych could not continue the game,” explained V.Urbonas about the replacement of striker Karolis Laukžemis. “And the other players stayed for a long time because they played with emotion, it was difficult to change something.”
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / UEFA League of Nations: Lithuania – Kazakhstan
Lithuania will play the next Nations League game in Tirana on Monday, and the first round of Division C’s fourth division will end in a match in Belarus in October.
After three weeks of protests by thousands of people against Aliaksandr Lukashenko in Minsk, the word of the athletes also gains importance. The Finnish hockey club did not go to play KHL matches in Minsk.
But the Lithuanian coach does not consider that option.
“Perhaps I may be more concerned about COVID-19 not to shuffle the cards,” Urbon said when asked about Belarus. – And the political situation is not our turn, the game will continue to be disputed.
I don’t want to dwell on the will or the lack of will. We will comply with the UEFA regulations. “
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