Preview: Lithuania vs Georgia – prediction, team news, lineups

Vilnius will provide the backdrop for an intriguing international friendly on Sunday as Lithuania welcome a Georgia side brimming with confidence despite a patchy run of results. The hosts are seeking consecutive victories after dispatching Moldova 2-0 on Thursday, while Georgia halted a four-game slide by battling Israel to a dramatic 2-2 draw on the same evening.

Edgaras Jankauskas’ Lithuania enter the contest buoyed by Thursday’s clean sheet but acutely aware that bigger tests lie ahead. The Baltic side finished bottom of Euro 2024 qualifying Group G with just three points from eight outings and have never reached a World Cup finals. With the 2026 tournament already out of reach, the focus has shifted to June’s Baltic Cup semi-final against Latvia and September’s UEFA Nations League opener versus Liechtenstein.

Georgia, by contrast, arrive still basking in the glow of last summer’s fairytale run to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. Willy Sagnol’s men ultimately came up short in a bruising World Cup qualifying group, managing only three points from six matches to finish third in Group E, yet the attacking talent within the squad suggests brighter days ahead.

Recent history favours the Crusaders: Georgia have won four of the seven previous meetings between the nations, including a 4-0 rout in the most recent friendly in March 2018.

Team news

Lithuania are expected to keep faith with the nucleus of the side that overcame Moldova. Armandas Kucys, the 23-year-old top scorer in the current squad with five goals, will spearhead the attack, supported by Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis. Veteran defender Justas Lasickas is poised to collect his 68th cap.

Georgia will unleash their star-studded front line once more. Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who struck twice against Israel, will be flanked by Villarreal’s Georges Mikautadze and Heidenheim’s Budu Zivzivadze. Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to earn cap number 37.

Probable lineups

Lithuania: Gertmonas; Lasickas, Sirvys, Utkus, Armalas; Vorobjovas, Gineitis, Golubickas, Kalinauskas; Kucys, Dubickas

Georgia: Mamardashvili; Beriashvili, Dvali, Lochoshvili, Azarovi; Mekvabishvili, Kiteishvili, Gagnidze; Kvaratskhelia, Mikautadze, Zivzivadze

Prediction

Lithuania’s midweek success should not mask the gulf in individual quality between the squads. Georgia’s attacking trio possesses the pace and invention to trouble any defence, and after ending their winless streak they will be eager to build momentum ahead of September’s Nations League return. Expect the visitors to edge a competitive contest.