N. Kesminas: Lithuanian teams' carriage in Europe turns into a pumpkin

2025-08-16 12:51 © Stop kadras

In the social network "Facebook", sports journalist Nerijus Kesminas evaluated the performance of A League clubs in the European tournament qualifiers.

"Lithuanian teams left the celebration of European club football once again during daylight - just before the Feast of the Assumption. It was somehow meant to be.

Those who say that the disbelief in Lithuanian clubs' chances against Bulgarian teams is due to stereotypical thinking - that it is assessed based on a once superior qualitative level of Bulgarian league football - are not right. The Bulgarian football league was not significantly stronger than Lithuania's, and it is now.

And it will be. For a long time.

Numbers do not have a habit of lying. And they tell us that this season in the UEFA coefficient bookkeeping, Bulgaria accumulated 2.5 points and still has three teams in Europe. Lithuania has 1.125 points and, as already mentioned, our party abroad ended early and sadly.

You cannot help but admire the exalted media flank, which claims that Bulgaria's "fantastic journey of Kaunas Žalgiris in Europe" has been interrupted. An admirable ability to enjoy the joys of rare insignificance.
"Kaunas Žalgiris" won against teams it was supposed to win against and lost to one that, after losing to the Kaunasians, would have greatly demeaned itself. What is fantastic about that?

Numbers tell us: in the UEFA coefficient ranking, Lithuania this year surpassed only Liechtenstein, Montenegro, and Wales. For now, we lead against San Marino and Luxembourg, but even they - yes, even San Marino! - still have one team each in reserve and can step over our heads.

Well, for the sake of truth - we also lead against Switzerland, but there are four teams remaining in European tournaments ready to score new points for it. You cannot escape the fact - this summer we even got beaten by Gibraltar.

I heard a vox populi: after "Bangos" matches with Trondheim's "Rosenborg", the public sphere trumpets about the celebration created for Gargždai, rather than highlighting the problem. The problem, understand, is the result.

First: what is wrong with Gargždai having a celebration? Second: the result - 7:0 in favor of the Norwegians over two matches - is not a problem. It is reality.

"Linfield" is not an ordinary team, it is the champion of Northern Ireland. This is what the coach of Vilnius "Žalgiris", Vladimir Čeburinas, taught us, although on the other hand, he has recently been speaking Russian more harshly than his guardian and life shelter Vilma Venslovaitienė - in Lithuanian.

The bull's dung of a cow: "Linfield" and other teams of their level are quite ordinary in the context of European tournaments. The trouble is that sometimes our guys seem to be even more ordinary than them.

Next season in the UEFA ranking, we will surpass the Estonians. The Belarusians will surpass us, maybe even North Macedonia, Luxembourg. Very theoretically, even Gibraltar with San Marino could do it.

We might remain in 45th place, or we might slip closer to the bottom of the fifth decade. Not overly important: the difference between eleventh and fiftieth is small - both send four teams to Europe every year.
What is more important is that the "Rosenborg" - "Banga" 7:0 is a real reflection of the possibilities of A League teams, a symbolic business card of Lithuanian football clubs.

One season, some mystical astral being led Vilnius "Žalgiris" to the Conference League group, but the fairy tale ended quickly. The league did not rise to the level of "Žalgiris" - "Žalgiris" itself sank into a mass of gray teams.

Let’s not expect miracles - the time when the chariot of Lithuanian teams turns into a pumpkin in Europe will not change anytime soon. Focus on the Feast of the Assumption," - wrote N. Kesminas.