Preview: Lithuania vs. Kuwait - prediction, team news, lineups

Lithuania head into their international friendly with Kuwait on Monday evening looking to end a disastrous 2021 on a high note.

Like their hosts, Kuwait have also only won one match all year, increasing the stakes ahead of the game in Vilnius.

Match preview

Lithuania had their moments during World Cup Qualifying, pushing Switzerland, Italy and Bulgaria all the way at times before recording a brilliant win over the latter in October.

However, a 1-0 reverse in Belfast on Friday night left them with three points from their eight matches, a poor return even though bottom spot was expected.

In total, Lithuania have lost 11 of their 12 matches during 2021, failing to score in nine of those games and netting just five times.

New boss Valdas Ivanauskas, best known for winning the 2006 Scottish Cup with Hearts, has been in the job for three matches, but he will want to get a second success on the board in what is a winnable game.

Kuwait have fared slightly better than their hosts this year, collecting a win and two draws from their 10 encounters since January.

Nevertheless, for all of the positivity for their results during the middle part of the year, the Blue Wave were thoroughly outclassed by Czech Republic earlier this week.

The Euro 2020 quarter-finalists netted seven goals without reply, four of those strikes coming during a 16-minute period either side of half time.

Thamer Enad will instead prefer to speak about their efforts during the 1-0 defeat against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but there is naturally a certain level of pressure on Kuwait as they bid to replicate their 1-0 win over Lithuania from all the way back in 2006.

That was also the last time that Kuwait posted a victory over European opposition.

Team News

Martynas Dapkus and Linas Megelaitis are both expected to miss out for Lithuania after picking up injuries against Northern Ireland.

Vytas Gaspuitis and Vilius Armanavicius, who were introduced as their replacements in Belfast, appear in line to come into the starting lineup.

Edgaras Dubickas may also get an opportunity ahead of Karolis Laukzemis in attack.

Inclined to rotate his squad, Enad could hand opportunities to the five Kuwait players who were substitutes for the Czech Republic fixture.

Lithuania possible starting lineup:

Setkus; Vaitkunas, Gaspuitis, Satkus, Barauskas; Cernych, Armanavicius; Lasickas, Verbickas, Novikovas; Dubickas

Kuwait possible starting lineup:

Al Rashidi; Al Dosary, Al Fadhli, Mahran, Al Qallaf; Faleh, Redha, Al Harbi, Al Fnaini; Bourslee, Al Mutawa

We say: Lithuania 3-1 Kuwait

Given the manner of Kuwait's defeat on Thursday, there can surely only be one winner here. While Lithuania may have to work hard at times, we are backing the home side to eventually cruise to victory on familiar territory.