Nations League | League C

Nov 18, 2024 at 7.45pm UK

Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri

Kosovovs.Lithuania

Match preview

This wasn't the first time Kosovo have had to stop playing against the Romanians. Back in September 2023, a Euro 2024 qualifier was disrupted in similar circumstances, but play eventually resumed.

We're still waiting to see what happens as a result of Dardanet's refusal to finish the match. UEFA is looking into it, so there's a chance they'll give Romania a 3-0 win.

If that happens, Romania will be guaranteed the top spot in Group C2 and automatic promotion to League B, where Kosovo will be aiming to reach via a promotion playoff.

After losing 3-0 to the Romanians in their opening group stage match, the hosts bounced back by beating Cyprus twice and drawing with Lithuania in Kaunas. They scored nine goals and conceded just once in those three games.

Kosovo were on course to keep another clean sheet on Friday night before the chaos ensued. The visitors were the better side in Bucharest, creating 17 chances in the game while limiting their hosts to just four.

Even though Friday's match ended on a sour note, Kosovo manager Franco Foda has led his team to four wins out of seven since taking charge in February 2024.

The former Austria boss has a chance to take Kosovo to League B for the first time in their history, which would be quite an achievement for a team that started their Nations League journey in League D back in 2018.

Lithuania's performance has also declined over time. Their last win was in the semi-finals of the Baltic Cup in June, when they beat Latvia 2-0 and secured a fifth consecutive clean sheet in 2024.

Since they beat Latvia, they've lost six games in a row and conceded 10 times, with five of those losses coming in the Nations League.

Their most recent loss was on Friday, when Cyprus beat Trispalves 2-1 in Larnaca. Marinos Tzionis scored the winning goal in the second half, which means the hosts have guaranteed their safety in League C for another year.

Gvidas Gineitis scored his first international goal in that defeat, making him the youngest player to score for his country in a decade and the second-youngest to score in a competitive match for Lithuania.

The result in Cyprus means that the visitors will finish at the bottom of the group, no matter what happens on Monday. They could still qualify for a relegation playoff against one of the runners-up from Group D, though.

If they want to stay up, they'll need to win on Monday against Kosovo and then hope Northern Ireland can help them out in their match against Luxembourg.

The visitors have been in Group C of the Nations League since it first began six years ago, but unless they get some good results on Monday, they'll be playing in Group D next term.

They already came through a relegation playoff against Gibraltar earlier in the year to stay in Group C, so they've got a history of staying up in difficult circumstances. They'll undoubtedly keep fighting until it's impossible to stay up.

Recent Performance

Kosovo Nations League form:LWWW

Kosovo form (all competitions):LLLWWW

Lithuania Nations League form:LLLLL

Lithuania form (all competitions):LLLLLL

Team News

Kosovo will be without Leart Paqarada, who is expected to be out until December with a groin injury, while Milot Rashica, Ermal Krasniqi and Bersant Celina are also out with injuries.

On a positive note, the hosts received a boost last time out when their top goal scorer, Vedat Muriqi, returned from injury against Romania. He had missed the international break in October due to injury.

Another player who's back in the Kosovo side recently is midfielder Muharrem Jashari. He's played in the last three Nations League games, having previously not featured for his country in two years.

Meanwhile, the visitors have no fresh injury worries ahead of the match. Their biggest goal threat is Armandas Kucys, who has scored half of Lithuania's four goals in the competition so far.

Ginišius, who scored for Lithuania in their loss to Cyprus, is likely to start in midfield once again for his country. The youngster from Torino is seen as one of the top prospects in Lithuanian football right now.

Meanwhile, captain Fedor Cernych is just four games away from winning his 100th cap for his country. He hasn't played much recently, though, coming on as a sub in each of his last three international matches.

Possible starting lineup

Kosovo possible starting lineup:

Muric; Vojvoda, Dellova, Am Rrahmani, Hadergjonaj; Jashari, V Berisha, Rexhbecaj, Muslija, Zhegrova; Muriqi

Lithuania possible starting lineup:

Bertasius; Tutyskinas, Girdvainis, Kazukolovas, Sirvys; Lasickas, Gineitis, Vorobjovas, Golubickas, Dolznikov; Paulauskas