Lithuania host world champions Spain

Qualifying for the 2012 European Championship seems an almost hopeless task for Lithuania’s footballers. Currently second from bottom in Group I, the Baltic side is well out of reach of a qualifying spot. The race in the final group is clearly between the Czechs and the Scots. Above all, however, world and European champions Spain will be an insurmountable obstacle for every team. Nevertheless, matches against the unbeaten Iberians are probably among the current highlights for every footballing nation. The clash between Lithuania and Spain on March 29 in Kaunas is therefore a particularly exciting prospect. Perhaps the Lithuanians could even pull off a sensation and suddenly find themselves back within reach of qualification. The Czech Republic, in second place and occupying a playoff spot, is just two points ahead.

The S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas holds only around 9,000 spectators. That is a rather unusual setting for the visitors from Spain, who are accustomed to playing in front of around 80,000 passionate fans even in their domestic league. The small crowd and home advantage could work in Lithuania’s favor. In the first leg in Salamanca, the Eastern Europeans had to settle for a 3–1 defeat. The Lithuanians have also never taken part in an international tournament. Since independence, no Baltic team has ever made it through qualification. Until 1991, Lithuanian footballers were part of the Soviet Union’s national team, which made it difficult for a distinct national football culture to develop. After all, basketball is the country’s national sport and is certainly the one in which the nation has the greatest chance of success.

Even so, the footballers deserve our support. And not only because Spain kept Germany from ultimate success at the last tournaments. After all, the Lithuanian Football Federation employs a familiar former Bundesliga figure. Former Hamburg star Valdas Ivanauskas is currently still coaching the under-18s, but insiders have long been tipping him for the head coach’s position, which is currently held by Raimondas Zataustas. The match against the Spaniards will also be especially significant for one Lithuanian player. Defender Marius Stankevičius is on the books of Andalusian top-flight club FC Sevilla.