10 things you never knew about the Lithuania national team
England’s bid to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia continues this weekend with the visit of Lithuania to Wembley. They may be regulars among qualifying tables, but how much do we really know about the Baltic nation?
Well, wonder no more as we hit you with some knowledge.
Here are 10 things you never knew about Lithuania’s national side…
Only two Lithuanians have ever played in the Premier League
Can you name them? Nope, didn’t think so. Giedrius Arlauskis played once for Watford in 2015-16, while Tomas Danilevicius made two appearances for Arsenal in the 2000-2001 campaign. No we can’t remember that either.
World Cup Qualifying record
Lithuania boast a solid if unspectacular 16 wins from 63 games.
European Championships Qualifying Record
But it’s not as good as their efforts for the Euros, where they’ve landed 20 wins from 58 games.
Record goalscorer
It’s that man again, Arsenal legend Tomas Danilevicius. He bagged 19 goals in 71 games between 1998 and 2012.
Current record goalscorer
This goes to Fiodor Cernych who boasts eight strikes in 31 appearances.
Most capped player
Nobody has played more times for Lithuania than centre-half stalwart Andreas Skerla, who has made 84 appearances. Skerla is well known in Scotland for his five-year stint with Dunfermline.
Head coaches
Lithuania have had 12 permanent coaches since 1990, and only two have been non-Lithuanian. That’s not dissimilar to England, who have had 11 permanent managers in that spell, also with two non-English coaches.
Head-to-head
Lithuania boats not one, not two, but three 100 per cent win ratios versus other nations.
And they are… San Marino, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan. Now you know.
Familiar foes
Outside of Baltic neighbours Latvia and Estonia, Poland and Romania have been Lithuania’s most regular opponents. They’ve met both sides 11 times.
Rankings
Currently 105th in the world, Lithuania were as high as 37th in October 2008. To put that in context, today they would be above the Czech Republic, Paraguay and Sweden.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing