From the special reporter "Vijesti"
What does football Montenegro have that football Lithuania does not?
There are still great footballers - Stevan jovetić i Stefan Savic they are still top-caliber players, even though they are older, there are still a few footballers who play in Leagues of Five, such as Adam Marušić, Nikola Krstović...
Montenegro also has high, highest expectations - it enters every cycle with the intention, or at least the desire, to qualify for a major competition.
And where there are great wishes and expectations, there are often great disappointments when it doesn't work out - we have experienced it "countless" times.
And what is it that football Montenegro doesn't have, but football Lithuania has?
It does not have a respectable football stadium - the "Darius i Girenas" arena, located in a beautiful, forest environment, is a model of a stadium that Montenegro "must" have (it has been for 15 years - and who knows how much longer). By reconstructing the old, 100-year-old building named after the pilots-heroes from the Second World War, as they proudly note, the Lithuanians finally got a football home for their national team. With a capacity of 15.000 fans, with all the necessary facilities, a perfect hybrid surface that withstands harsh winters, the arena is a true blend of modern and historical - even the athletics track fits into such an environment, and Uefa awarded this facility four stars.
What else do Lithuanians have? The culture of cheering and loyalty to one's national team, regardless of the fact that it has never come close to a major competition, nor achieved a memorable success.
Lithuania is, above all, a basketball country, but the day before the football match with Montenegro, 12 thousand tickets were sold. The stadium will be full, or almost full!
What else do Lithuanians have that Montenegro doesn't? They have an organized football system and a league that allows their clubs to achieve their biggest dreams. There is, therefore, a club in the UEFA competition - Žalgiris played in the Conference League last year, and was close this year as well. Some players, like Montenegrin Marko Milickovic, they manage much better in that system and environment.
And when, one day, Montenegro has what Lithuania has, then the expectations and hopes of making it to the big competition may be at least a little more realistic.
Until then, we will live in delusions - Montenegro is (still) the favorite to beat Lithuania, because it still has better football players, but who gives us the right to come to Kaunas and believe that we will "fly over" the opponent. And how long will we be favorites?
Bonus video:
