Lithuania off to a good start in Euro qualifying

Lithuania’s national team has made a surprisingly strong start to qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012, which will be held in Ukraine and Poland. After two successful opening matches in which the Lithuanian side managed to earn an impressive four points, hopes are now quietly growing that they could qualify for UEFA Euro 2012. Lithuania is proving the early predictions of the experts wrong (as we reported).

Euro qualifying: Lithuania face the reigning European and world champions, Spain

The upcoming Euro qualifying match will show where Lithuanian football really stands: on 8 October 2010, coach Zataustas’s team must face the reigning European and world champions, Spain. The Spanish Selección are currently the benchmark in international football.

After the winter break, Spain will visit Lithuania on 29 March 2011. Lithuania’s remaining Euro qualifying fixtures are: away to Liechtenstein on 4 June 2011; at home against Liechtenstein on 2 September 2011; away to Scotland on 6 September 2011; and at home against the Czech Republic on 11 October 2011.

It is hard to say who will finish second behind Spain in Group I and qualify for the play-offs. By earning a point against Scotland and securing a surprise away win against the Czech Republic, Lithuania has clearly shown that it is a team to reckon with in qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. Six points should be possible against Liechtenstein, and if Lithuania beats Scotland at home and puts in a convincing performance against the Czech Republic on home soil, it can dream of qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012. In any case, hopes have been raised among players and fans in Lithuania.