Monday, September 5, 2011

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06.09. (Tue) 21:00 Scotland - Lithuania

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SCOTLAND
McGregor
Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Whittaker
Morrison, Robson, Fletcher, Bannan, Snodgrass
Naismith


LITHUANIA
Karcemarskas
Klimavicius, Kijanskas, Zaliukas, Radavicius
D Cesnauskis, Panka, Novikovas, Pilibaitis, Mikoliunas
Danilevicius

Craig Levein will have to do without the services of midfielder Scott Brown and striker Kenny Miller, who both picked up yellow cards during their controversial draw with the Czech Republic at Hampden on Saturday.

Phil Bardsley is a doubt while Charlie Adam has withdrawn with injury, and Brighton striker Craig Mackail-Smith has also pulled out with a back injury. The good news for Scotland is that Rangers utility man Steven Whittaker will be available after serving a one-game suspension at the weekend.

Lithuania will go into the Hampden clash without midfielder Edgaras Cesnauskis, who was sent off during his side’s humiliating draw at home to Liechtenstein, where they were booed off the park by their own fans.

Also missing for the Lithuanians is star right-back Marius Stankevicius, who is currently injured, but coach Raimondas Zutautas will be able to welcome back defender Ramunas Radavicius and will also be hopeful that veteran Andrius Skerla will be available for selection.

DID YOU KNOW?

Scotland have claimed victory on all three occasions that the sides have met at Hampden Park.

Captain Darren Fletcher will be the top international scorer in Tuesday’s side due to Kenny Miller’s suspension, with a grand total of five goals.

Levein’s side currently sit on five points in Group I, five points behind the Czech Republic, who currently occupy second place in the table.

Many of the Lithuania squad will be familiar to the home fans with Marius Zaliukas and Arvydas Novikovas currently playing for Hearts, while Deividas Cesnauskis, Saulius Mikoliunas, Kestutis Ivaskevicius, Linas Pilibaitis and Ricardas Beniusis are all former Jambos.

Lithuanian record cap holder Andrius Skerla and international top goalscorer Tomas Danilevicius both plied their trade in Scotland as well, having played at Dunfermline.

The draw at home to Liechtenstein put pay to any chance that Lithuania had of making it through to the Euro 2012 playoffs, sitting five points behind the Czech Republic with only two games left.

Prediction
Both sides head into the game after disappointing results against the Czech Republic and Liechtenstein, with only Scotland having an outside chance to make it to the play-offs. But the Lithuanian side will be up for the Hampden clash, with so many of their players having Scottish connections.
Editor's Prediction
Scotland 1-1 Lithuania