Lithuania national football team

The Lithuania national football team (Lithuanian: Lietuvos nacionalinė futbolo rinktinė) represents Lithuania in men's international football, and is controlled by the Lithuanian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Lithuania. They played their first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match thereafter against Georgia on 27 May of that year.

Lithuania
Nickname(s)Nacionalinė komanda (National team)
AssociationLithuanian Football Federation
(LFF)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachEdgaras Jankauskas
CaptainFedor Černych
Most capsSaulius Mikoliūnas (101)
Top scorerTomas Danilevičius (19)
Home stadiumDarius and Girėnas Stadium
FIFA codeLTU
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 136 1 (20 June 2024)[1]
Highest37 (October 2008)
Lowest149 (December 2017)
First international
 Lithuania 0–5 Estonia 
(Kaunas, Lithuania; 24 June 1923)
Biggest win
 Lithuania 7–0 Estonia 
(Riga, Latvia; 20 May 1995)
Biggest defeat
 Egypt 10–0 Lithuania 
(Paris, France; 27 May 1924)
Baltic Cup
Appearances30 (first in 1928)
Best resultChampions (1930, 1935, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2010)

Although Lithuania has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, nor the UEFA European Championship, they have successfully participated in the regional Baltic Cup tournament, which takes place every two years between Lithuania and their Baltic rivals, Latvia and Estonia. Lithuania has won the Baltic Cup championship 10 times out of 29 appearances, and only Latvia has won it more frequently. Despite this Lithuania holds the record for winning the most consecutive Baltic Cup championships, four titles in a row from 1996 to 2000.

From 2012 until 2022, the national team played their home matches at the LFF Stadium in Vilnius.

History

On 24 June 1923, Lithuania played their first ever game, at the Lietuvos Fizinio Lavinimosi Sąjunga Stadionas, resulting in a 5–0 loss against Estonia. In 1924, Lithuania entered the 1924 Olympics in France, losing 9–0 against Switzerland on 25 May 1924. Two days later, Lithuania suffered a 10–0 loss to Egypt, a record defeat to date. During the early years of the Lithuanian national team, Lithuania regularly played Baltic neighbours Estonia and Latvia, with Lithuania's first win coming in a 2–1 away win against Estonia on 24 August 1924 in Tallinn. In 1930, Lithuania won the third edition of the Baltic Cup in Kaunas.[2] On 13 October 1940, Lithuania played their final game for just shy of 50 years, a 4–3 win against Latvia, following the first Soviet annexation of the country.[3]

Lithuania's first game following the declaration of independence in 1990 was a 2–2 draw against Georgia in Tbilisi on 27 May 1990.[4] In the 1990s, Lithuania established a respectable presence in the World Cup and European Championship qualifiers: third place in their group in both Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup qualifiers. In the Euro 2004 qualifiers, they were once again contenders for qualification and managed an away draw with Germany and a home win over Scotland; however, a 1–0 defeat to Scotland in the final game ended their hopes. Although finishing fifth in their 2006 World Cup qualifying group, Lithuania were nevertheless competitive.

Lithuania drew with world champions Italy 1–1 in Naples in a Euro 2008 qualifying game on 2 September 2006, in the first competitive game that Italy played since the World Cup final.

On 6 September 2008, Lithuania defeated Romania 3–0 in a 2010 World Cup qualifier. The victory was regarded by many as "a historic win."[5] It was followed by another successful 2–0 performance against Austria in Marijampolė on 10 September 2008.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

17 June 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Lithuania  1–1  Bulgaria Kaunas, Lithuania
16:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Darius and Girėnas Stadium
Attendance: 14,230
Referee: Jakob Alexander Sundberg (Denmark)
20 June 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Hungary  2–0  Lithuania Budapest, Hungary
20:45 UTC+2
Report Stadium: Puskás Aréna
Attendance: 58,274
Referee: António Nobre (Portugal)
7 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Lithuania  2–2  Montenegro Kaunas, Lithuania
19:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Darius and Girėnas Stadium
Attendance: 11,328
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (Sweden)
10 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Lithuania  1–3  Serbia Kaunas, Lithuania
21:45 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Darius and Girėnas Stadium
Attendance: 8,586
Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Germany)
14 October 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Bulgaria  0–2  Lithuania Sofia, Bulgaria
19:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Vasil Levski National Stadium
Attendance: 6,916
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili (Georgia)
17 October 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Lithuania  2–2  Hungary Kaunas, Lithuania
21:45 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Darius and Girėnas Stadium
Attendance: 5,349
Referee: Juxhin Xhaja (Albania)
16 November 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Montenegro  2–0  Lithuania Podgorica, Montenegro
20:45 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Podgorica City Stadium
Attendance: 3,647
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)
19 November 2023 Friendly Cyprus  1–0  Lithuania Limassol, Cyprus
18:00 UTC+2
Report Stadium: Alphamega Stadium
Referee: Marcel Birsan (Romania)

2024

21 March 2024 Nations League play-out Gibraltar  0–1  Lithuania Faro/Loulé, Portugal
20:45 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Estádio Algarve
Attendance: 207
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili (Georgia)
26 March 2024 Nations League play-out Lithuania  1–0
(2–0 agg.)
 Gibraltar Kaunas, Lithuania
19:00 UTC+2 Report Stadium: Darius and Girėnas Stadium
Attendance: 6,102
Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia)
Note: Lithuania won 2–0 on aggregate and remained in League C, while Gibraltar were relegated to League D.
8 June 2024 2024 Baltic Cup Latvia  0–2  Lithuania Liepāja, Latvia
16:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Daugava Stadium
Attendance: 3,505
Referee: Juri Frischer (Estonia)
6 September 2024 2024–25 Nations League Lithuania  v  Cyprus Kaunas, Lithuania
20:45 Stadium: Darius and Girėnas Stadium
9 September 2024 2024–25 Nations League Romania  v  Lithuania Bucharest, Romania
21:45 Stadium: Steaua Stadium
15 October 2024 2024–25 Nations League Lithuania  v  Romania Lithuania
20:45
15 November 2024 2024–25 Nations League Cyprus  v  Lithuania Cyprus
21:45
18 November 2024 2024–25 Nations League Kosovo  v  Lithuania TBD
20:45 Report

Coaching staff

Position[6] Name
Manager Edgaras Jankauskas
Assistant coach Andrius Velička
Assistant coach Vaidas Sabaliauskas
Fitness coach Georgas Freidgeimas
Goalkeeping coach Audrius Paškevičius
Analyst Rokas Pranaitis

Managers history

Name Nat From To Games Won Drawn Lost GF GA Win%
Benjaminas Zelkevičius 19901991 312074033.33
Algimantas Liubinskas 19921994 2978142948024.14
Benjaminas Zelkevičius 19951997 29126114541041.38
Kęstutis Latoža 19981999 185491524027.78
Robertas Tautkus (caretaker) 19991999 100103000.00
Stasys Stankus 20002000 8206818025.00
Julius Kvedaras (caretaker) 20002000 100116000.00
Benjaminas Zelkevičius 20012003 1943122041021.05
Algimantas Liubinskas 20032008 50186265465036.00
José Couceiro 20082009 156361715040.00
Raimondas Žutautas 20102011 164391122025.00
Csaba László 20122013 1624101228012.50
Igoris Pankratjevas 20132015 2155111431023.81
Edgaras Jankauskas 20162018 2635181450011.54
Valdas Urbonas 20192021 2454151749020.83
Valdas Ivanauskas 20212022 132110629015.38
Reinhold Breu (interim) 20222022 402214000.00
Edgaras Jankauskas 2023present 144551316028.57

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the international matches in June 2024.[7]

Caps and goals correct as of 12 June 2024, after the match against  Estonia.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
12 1GK Edvinas Gertmonas (1997-05-13) 13 May 1997 11 0 Universitatea Cluj
16 1GK Deividas Mikelionis (1995-05-08) 8 May 1995 0 0 FK Kauno Žalgiris
1 1GK Lukas Paukštė (1998-09-25) 25 September 1998 0 0 Šiauliai

13 2DF Justas Lasickas (1997-10-06) 6 October 1997 51 2 Olimpija
4 2DF Edvinas Girdvainis (1993-01-19) 19 January 1993 50 1 SV Sandhausen
2 2DF Linas Klimavičius (1989-04-10) 10 April 1989 43 0 FK Panevėžys
17 2DF Pijus Širvys (1998-04-01) April 1, 1998 16 3 NK Maribor
20 2DF Rokas Lekiatas (1998-11-07) November 7, 1998 11 0 FC U Craiova 1948
5 2DF Kipras Kažukolovas (2000-11-20) November 20, 2000 9 0 FC Astana
3 2DF Artemijus Tutyškinas (2003-08-08) 8 August 2003 8 0 ŁKS Łódź
7 2DF Klaudijus Upstas (1994-10-30) October 30, 1994 7 0 FC Hegelmann

11 3MF Arvydas Novikovas (1990-12-18) 18 December 1990 96 12 Tuzlaspor
10 3MF Fedor Černych (1991-05-21) 21 May 1991 93 15 FK Kauno Žalgiris
6 3MF Modestas Vorobjovas (1995-12-30) 30 December 1995 34 1 İstanbulspor
22 3MF Paulius Golubickas (1999-08-19) 19 August 1999 26 1 FK Žalgiris
21 3MF Daniel Romanovskij (1996-06-19) 19 June 1996 12 0 Šiauliai
23 3MF Artūr Dolžnikov (2000-06-06) June 6, 2000 10 1 FK Kauno Žalgiris
8 3MF Giedrius Matulevičius (1997-03-05) 5 March 1997 5 1 FK Žalgiris
19 3MF Matas Vareika (2000-01-27) 27 January 2000 2 0 FC Hegelmann
15 3MF Domantas Antanavičius (1998-11-18) 18 November 1998 2 0 FC Hegelmann
24 3MF Ernestas Gudelevičius (2005-01-14) 14 January 2005 0 0 ACF Fiorentina

9 4FW Gytis Paulauskas (1999-09-27) 27 September 1999 15 2 FC Kolos Kovalivka
14 4FW Armandas Kučys (2003-02-27) 27 February 2003 9 2 NK Celje
18 4FW Valdas Paulauskas (2001-02-04) 4 February 2001 0 0 FK Banga Gargždai

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team in the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Emilijus ZubasINJ (1990-07-10) 10 July 1990 19 0 Hapoel Tel Aviv FC  Gibraltar, 27 March 2024
GK Gustas Baliutavičius (2000-08-27) 27 August 2000 0 0 Šiauliai  Gibraltar, 27 March 2024
GK Vytautas ČerniauskasINJ (1989-03-12) 12 March 1989 6 0 FK Panevėžys  Gibraltar, 21 March 2024

DF Markas Beneta (1993-11-08) November 8, 1993 23 0 FK Panevėžys  Gibraltar, 27 March 2024
DF Edgaras UtkusINJ (2000-06-22) 22 June 2000 15 0 Cercle Brugge KSV  Gibraltar, 27 March 2024

MF Vykintas Slivka (1995-04-29) 29 April 1995 65 3 PAS Lamia 1964  Gibraltar, 27 March 2024
MF Ovidijus Verbickas (1993-07-04) 4 July 1993 34 1 FK Žalgiris  Gibraltar, 27 March 2024
MF Gvidas GineitisINJ (2004-04-15) 15 April 2004 14 0 Torino FC  Gibraltar, 27 March 2024
MF Matijus Remeikis (2003-03-28) March 28, 2003 3 0 FK Panevėžys  Cyprus, 19 November 2023
MF Eligijus Jankauskas (1998-06-22) 22 June 1998 9 0 Šiauliai  Cyprus, 19 November 2023
MF Donatas Kazlauskas (1994-03-31) 31 March 1994 32 2 Šiauliai  Serbia, 10 September 2023
MF Gratas Sirgėdas (1994-12-17) 17 December 1994 17 3 Kauno Žalgiris  Serbia, 10 September 2023
MF Karolis Uzėla (2000-03-11) 11 March 2000 5 0 Kauno Žalgiris  Serbia, 10 September 2023
MF Deividas ŠešplaukisINJ (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 2 0 Šiauliai  Serbia, 10 September 2023

FW Faustas Steponavičius (2004-06-08) June 8, 2004 2 0 Botev Plovdiv  Cyprus, 19 November 2023

Notes
  • PRE = Preliminary squad.
  • WD = The player withdrew from the current squad due to non-injury issue.
  • INJ = It is not part of the current squad due to injury.
  • RET = Retired from the national team.

Player records

As of 12 June 2024[8]
Players in bold are still active with Lithuania.

Most appearances

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Saulius Mikoliūnas 101 5 2004–2022
2 Arvydas Novikovas 96 12 2010–present
3 Fedor Černych 93 15 2012–present
4 Andrius Skerla 84 1 1996–2011
5 Deividas Šemberas 82 0 1996–2013
6 Tomas Danilevičius 71 19 1998–2012
7 Žydrūnas Karčemarskas 66 0 2003–2013
8 Aurelijus Skarbalius 65 5 1991–2005
Marius Stankevičius 65 5 2001–2013
Vykintas Slivka 65 3 2015–present

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Tomas Danilevičius 19 71 0.27 1998–2012
2 Fedor Černych 15 93 0.16 2012–present
3 Antanas Lingis 12 33 0.36 1928–1938
Arvydas Novikovas 12 96 0.13 2010–present
5 Edgaras Jankauskas 10 56 0.18 1991–2008
6 Virginijus Baltušnikas 9 42 0.21 1990–1998
7 Jaroslavas Citavičius 8 24 0.33 1926–1933
Valdas Ivanauskas 8 28 0.29 1992–2000
Darius Maciulevičius 8 38 0.21 1991–2005
Robertas Poškus 8 48 0.17 1999–2011

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 Did not enter Declined invitation
1934 Did not qualify 1 0 0 1 0 2
1938 2 0 0 2 3 9
1950 to 1990 Part of the  Soviet Union Part of the  Soviet Union
1994 Did not qualify 12 2 3 7 8 21
1998 10 5 2 3 11 8
2002 8 0 2 6 3 20
2006 10 2 4 4 8 9
2010 10 4 0 6 10 11
2014 10 3 2 5 9 11
2018 10 1 3 6 7 20
2022 8 1 0 7 4 19
2026 To be determined To be determined
2030
2034
Total 0/11 81 18 16 47 63 130

UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1960 Part of the  Soviet Union Part of the  Soviet Union
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996 Did not qualify 10 5 1 4 13 12
2000 10 3 2 5 8 16
2004 8 3 1 4 7 11
2008 12 5 1 6 11 13
2012 8 1 2 5 4 13
2016 10 3 1 6 7 18
2020 8 0 1 7 5 25
2024 8 1 3 4 8 14
2028 To be determined To be determined
2032
Total 0/8 74 21 12 41 63 122

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
Season** Division Group Pld W D* L GF GA P/R RK
2018–19 C 4 600631639th
2020–21 C 4 62225741st
2022–23 C 1 821541447th
2024–25 C 2 To be determined
Total 20 4 3 13 12 37 41st
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
**Group stage played home and away. Flag shown represents host nation for the finals stage.

Baltic Cup

Honours

Baltic Cup

Head-to-head record

As of 19 November 2023.

See also

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  2. "MATCHES → international football results of Lithuania". eufootball.info. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  3. "International football MATCH: 13.10.1940 Lithuania v Latvia*". eufootball.info. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. "International football MATCH: 27.05.1990 Georgia v Lithuania". eufootball.info. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  5. FIFA World Cup Archived 30 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine uefa.com
  6. "Įvyko LFF Vykdomojo komiteto posėdis". LFF (in Lithuanian). 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. https://www.lff.lt/patvirtinta-vyru-rinktines-sudetis-baltijos-taures-turnyrui-2/
  8. Mamrud, Roberto. "Lithuania - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
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