In the last third round of the selection tournament, the Lithuanian national team coached by Gintaras Savukynas will fight against the Hungarian national team. The first meeting will be held on May 9. in the biggest Vilnius “Twinsbet” arena, return match – May 12. In the Hungarian city of Veszprém.
We remind you that the national handball team will play in Alytus in the rematch of 2025. in the match of the World Cup qualifying tournament, after a penalty shootout of 7 m, they eliminated the Finnish handball players and made it to the next stage.
The Lithuanians welcome the important match against the Hungarian national team, which has already won tickets to the Paris Olympic Games, without two very important players. Due to a serious knee injury, the only Lithuanian who won the Champions League – Jonas Truchanovičius – has not been able to help the national team for a long time, and the captain of the national team, Gerda Babarskas, has been stopped by his health.
Before the important match, coach Gintaras Savukynas did not hide that the absence of these two players will be a very big loss.
“I have already mentioned it more than once. Both Truchanovic and Gerd Babarskas are our cornerstones in defense and the defense is built around them. Other men have a lot of desire, they have opportunities, but they don’t have the necessary experience,” said the strategist disappointingly.
However, even with losses, the national team will have to fight, and G. Savukynas hopes that the team will be determined.
“Despite the losses, the mood is good, the men are focused, they are preparing for these two matches, we know the capabilities of our opponents and we don’t need to look at what is missing. There are people who took those places, got a chance to appear in the national team and are ready to fight,” said the coach of the national team.
Lithuanian national handball team
(22 photos)
Gintaras Savukynas (P. Adamovič. photo)
Gintaras Savukynas (P. Adamovič. photo)
Gintaras Savukynas (P. Adamovič. photo)
Gintaras Savukynas (P. Adamovič. photo)
Aiden Malašinskas (photo by P. Adamovič)
Aiden Malašinskas (photo by P. Adamovič)
Gintaras Savukynas (P. Adamovič. photo)
Aiden Malašinskas (photo by P. Adamovič)
Aiden Malašinskas (photo by P. Adamovič)
Aiden Malašinskas (photo by P. Adamovič)
Gintaras Savukynas (P. Adamovič. photo)
Aiden Malašinskas (photo by P. Adamovič)
Gintaras Savukynas (P. Adamovič. photo)
Gintaras Savukynas (P. Adamovič. photo)
Lithuanian handball team (photo by P. Adamovič)
Lithuanian handball team (photo by P. Adamovič)
Lithuanian handball team (photo by P. Adamovič)
Lithuanian handball team (photo by P. Adamovič)
Lithuanian handball team (photo by P. Adamovič)
Lithuanian handball team (photo by P. Adamovič)
Lithuanian handball team (photo by P. Adamovič)
Lithuanian handball team (photo by P. Adamovič)
You could not be in the match against the Finns, because then the club did not release. Were there no such problems now?
We finished communication with the club and now I have time for the national team in full.
Maybe you can tell me how that training went when you were not there? Did you consult your assistants at all?
We were in very close contact from the beginning of the preparation and throughout the cycle. During competition analysis, preparation and competition. I sat at home and watched the statistics, and thanks to our national team doctor Gediminas Butis, I tried to convey some message during the match, what is happening, where is it happening, what to do, what to change, etc.
It’s hard to say whether that information arrived in time, but there was an attempt to work together.
Gerd Babarskas will not be in the national team, is it possible to somehow mask the loss of such a player?
I have already mentioned it more than once. Both Truchanovic and Gerd Babarskas are our cornerstones in defense and the defense is built around them. Other men have a lot of desire, they have the ability, but they don’t have the experience.
Such is the disguise. I hope that new leaders will emerge to step into that role and manage the defense.
A very strong opponent awaits, not so long ago you played in the qualifiers for the European Championship, so what makes Hungary stand out?
The team has not changed, which is their strength. They have a fairly balanced composition, analyzing both the previous stage and the Olympic selection. All positions are fully filled, athletes of high skill. A difficult opponent.
You return to Vilnius, where the team seems to have a successful place. Does it mean something to the team?
I think it means. In Vilnius, in fact, there was not only a victory against the Icelanders, there was also a victory against the Norwegians, good fights even earlier against the French and the Croatians, elite teams.
At one point, we had already stabilized in Vilnius and it was like our home arena. Now we haven’t been here for a while and I think that good emotion should add more motivation to the team, comfort to the spectators, who I hope will gather to support.
The World Cup, in which 32 national teams will play, will start on January 14 next year. and will take place in three countries – Croatia, Denmark and Norway.
Tags: coach national handball team discussed important loss decisive match
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