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Lithuania will offset a weakened midfield with an aggressive front line when they face Scotland away on Saturday in their final Euro 2004 qualifier, coach Algimantas Liubinskas said on Thursday.
"We are missing key players but intend to give them a battle," Liubinskas told Reuters, adding he was keen to teach Berti Vogts some manners.
Local media this week said Scotland's coach had called the Lithuanians "a bunch of divers", referring to a late penalty which Tomas Razanauskas converted to give the Baltic team a 1-0 home win over Scotland in April. Ticketmaster
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"We want to bring them to their knees with lightning counter-attacks. And
who knows, maybe we'll get lucky in the penalty box again," Liubinskas
said with a laugh.
Lithuania are fourth in Group Five, with 10 points, one less than Scotland. Second-placed Iceland are on 13 points, while Germany leads the group on 15 points.
Germany host Iceland on Saturday as well, another match key to Scotland's playoff fate.
Lithuania cannot finish in the top two even if they win at Hampden Park, but hope to finish third despite the loss of injured midfielder Igoris Morinas, who scored twice in last month's 3-1 away win against the Faroe Islands.
Liubinskas said Razanauskas was recovering from an injury and not sure to play, like goalkeeper Gintaras Stauce. Ticketmaster
Midfielders Edgaras Cesnauskis, Tomas Tamosauskas and Deividas Semberas were suspended, while Deividas Cesnauskis had been sent down to help the U21 team fight for a playoff spot.