Scottish Daily Mail

Scotland v Lithuania lowdown

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THREE TO WATCH...

ARVYDAS NOVIKOVAS The former Hearts winger now plays his football with VFL Bochum in the second tier of the German Bundesliga. Left-footed and with a decent turn of pace, it will be former Tynecastle team-mate Callum Paterson who is tasked with keeping him quiet. FIODOR CERNYCH The captain and playmaker of the Lithuanian team. Likely to operate in the No 10 position, he plays his football for Jagielloni­a Białystok in the Polish top flight. Scored in their opening qualifier against Slovenia. VYTAUTAS ANDRIUSKEV­ICIUS The left-back has played at a decent level with Djurgarden­s in Sweden and SC Cambuur in the Dutch Eredivisie. He now plays in the American MLS with Portland Timbers and is likely to go up against Oliver Burke on the right of Scotland’s attack.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS...

APRIL 2, 2003: LITHUANIA 1-0 SCOTLAND

A dire night for Berti Vogts’ team in Kaunas. A dubious penalty awarded against Jackie McNamara sees Tomas Razanauska­s convert the spot-kick to condemn the Scots to a humiliatin­g defeat. OCT 11, 2003: SCOTLAND1-0 LITHUANIA

Scotland toil to dispose of the Lithuanian­s in front of a full-house at Hampden, until 19-year-old Darren Fletcher comes off the bench to volley the winner in the 70th minute. An ill-fated Euro 2004 play-off against Holland would be our reward. SEPT 6, 2006: LITHUANIA 1-2 SCOTLAND

Goals from Christian Dailly and Kenny Miller are enough for Walter Smith’s side to secure the three points in Kaunas and register their second consecutiv­e victory at the outset of Euro 2008 qualifying. SEPT 8, 2007: SCOTLAND 3-1 LITHUANIA

Now under the guidance of Alex McLeish, Scotland win comfortabl­y thanks to goals from Kris Boyd, Stephen McManus and James McFadden (pictured far right). The game is made infamous for a dive to win a penalty by Hearts midfielder Saulius Mikoliunas. SEPT 3, 2010: LITHUANIA 0-0 SCOTLAND

Craig Levein’s first competitiv­e game in charge results in a brutal stalemate in Kaunas, which sets the tone for an unsuccessf­ul Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. SEPT 6, 2011: SCOTLAND 1-0 LITHUANIA

Darren Fletcher misses a penalty, but Steven Naismith fires a second-half winner. The Scots ultimately fall short of catching the Czech Republic for a play-off spot.

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