Reinhold Breu failed to make his head coaching debut with a win. The UEFA Nations League C Division tie between Lithuania and the Faroe Islands, which took place at the LFF Stadium on Thursday, ended peacefully with the result 1:1 (1:1).
Although this is the first point won by the Lithuanian national team in the Nations League, it will not lead to anything. A victory was needed to stay in the fight for third place in the group.
Now even the smallest theoretical possibilities for the Lithuanian national team to come out of the last place in the tournament table are being erased.
The Faroese footballers, who started the game with much more confidence, stood out from the first minutes with high pressing and a ball control advantage.
And in the 22nd minute, the first goal was scored by the Lithuanian national team: after a standard situation, Jakupas Andreasen scored with a header.
And when you miss a goal, it becomes very difficult to come back.
In the 44th minute, Vykintas Slivka sent the ball into the opposing goal. After the goal, the assistant referee’s flag went up, and VAR intervention was required, and the goal was finally scored.
Neither team could score in the second half. Although Arvydas Novikovas could have given the Lithuanian national team the lead with a kick from the penalty area already in referee’s injury time, but the ball, kicked hard by the veteran national team, whistled over the goal.
After this match, the coach of the Lithuanian national team thanked his players and tried to see positive things in it.
“First of all, I want to thank my players. We wanted to win the match, the team showed a tough character, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t easy, especially after the missed goal. We will analyzing this match, recovering and preparing for the fight against Luxembourg was a positive first step for me.
Even if all was not ideal. We talked a lot with the players about the new principles of play and the style of play. I sincerely thank the footballers, they gave their all. For me, it’s a good first step, the first point in the Nations League,” said R. Breu.
According to the coach, the opponents who competed strongly did not allow to demonstrate the desired game.
“We wanted to play good football, but it was impossible because we played against a strong opponent. I’m not happy with the point, we wanted to win, but we have to accept the current result. The whole team wanted to win three points at home,” said the strategist.
In the match against the Faroe Islands, there was only one shot on target. According to the temporary national team coach, this was influenced by the difficult first 20 minutes and the missed goal.
“You have to be honest, we didn’t start the game easily, especially the first 20 minutes. And when you miss a goal it becomes very difficult to come back. We didn’t manage to control the ball, I think ‘We lacked composure,’ admitted R. Breu.
The Lithuanian national team will play the last remaining Nations League game on September 25 at 9:45 p.m. with the Luxembourg national team. R. Breu is already looking forward to the next meeting with his good team.
“The Luxembourg team managed to score 3 goals in the game against Turkey. I know all the players well because I trained them. I think it will be a very different game. Maybe it’s a bit easier for us to play away, because Luxembourg will want to play attacking football,” said R. Breu, who worked in Luxembourg for 10 years.
Source: The Delfi
