Lithuania vs Ukraine should be an easy job for guests in Euro2020 qualification 5th Round, at LFF Stadium, in Vilnius. After 4 games, even playing against Portugal, Ukraine collected 10 points and confidently stands at the 1st place of Group B. Read our thoughts about this Euro2020 qualification game between Lithuania vs Ukraine here below.

Lithuania

FIFA Rating – 130

Lithuania lost 8 out of 10 last games in different competitions. 2 other matches they had a draw against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg. In the last 2 years, they won only 2 matches, playing against Sri Lanka in a friendly match, mostly with youth players, and surprisingly against Armenia, also playing friendly in Yerevan. Even Luxembourg stands 40 places higher in FIFA rating than Lithuania. In UEFA Nations League Lithuania lost all matches, conceded 16 goals and scored only 3, and finally relegated to the last League D.

Basically, all the problems of the team begin from the football federation, where the money is not allocated for the development of football. Players play for various clubs and look very confidently, but in the national team, they have nothing to do. For several years now, the team cannot get out of the pit of a bad game losing even against weaker teams.

Predicted Lithuania line-up

Head Coach

Valdas Urbonas;

Squad

Goalkeepers

Ernestas Setkus;

Defenders

Egidijus Vaitkunas, Linas Klimavicius, Rolandas Baravykas, Vytautas Andriuskevicius;

Midfielders

Saulius Mikoliunas, Vykintas Slivka, Arturas Zulpa, Mantas Kuklys, Deimantas Petravicius;

Strikers

Fedor Cernych;

Ukraine

FIFA Rating – 25

Still greatest national squad scorer Andrii Shevchenko became head coach of the Ukraine squad in 2016. Since that date, Ukraine lost only 5 international games. One of the most painful defeats were against Croatia, at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, in Kyiv. That was a decisive game between them, who will be the second team of the group fighting for World Cup main draw. That time, Croatia won even being guests. Now, Andrii trying to make everything to reach the maximum with a beloved team. One of the biggest achievements is 1st place in UEFA Nations League and promotion to League A.

In the first round of UEFA Euro2020 qualification, Ukraine met Portugal at Estádio da Luz, in Lisabon. Portugal controlled the possession, had more chances to score and succeed, however, Ukraine’s defence stood strong and finally finished the match with 0:0 draw. That was a very important point playing against strong Group favourite. However, in the last match, against Luxembourg, opponents were extremely strong and almost pulled out a draw since the match ended with a minimum goal difference. Looks like Luxembourg made super changes in their squad, as the first match against them, also finished with big troubles, and only own goal in 93rd minute helped Ukraine to take 3 points from Stade Josy Barthel.

Predicted Ukraine line-up

Head Coach

Andrii Shevchenko;

Squad

Goalkeepers

Andriy Pyatov;

Defenders

Oleksandr Karavayev, Eduard Sobol. Serhiy Kryvtsov, Mykola Matviyenko;

Midfielders

Yevhen Konoplyanka, Andriy Yarmolenko, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Taras Stepanenko, Ruslan Malinovsky;

Strikers

Roman Yeremchuk;

Lithuania vs Ukraine H2H

Last time these teams played in 2014 when Lithuania looked much more strong. These teams finished the game with a 0:0 draw. Several players are still playing for their national teams.

 

Article image is taken from https://www.footboom.com