Monday 13th July 2009
Last night we left Kaunas for a short flight to Koprivnica, Croatia. Kaunas, despite there demotion to the Third Division of Lithuanian football, are in the UEFA Europa League. So here we are in sunny Croatia, in what has to be one of the strangest scenario's in modern day football.
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Koprivnica is at the very north of Croatia and is a few hundred miles west of the Hungarian border. As we arrived our coach was greeted by the General manager,Chairman and the mayor of the town, Zvonimir Mršić. After a few pleasantries I sent the squad to there hotel to rest before dinner.
Eddie and I then got a tour of the
Gradski stadion u Koprivnici. They told us that the ground could fill 5,000 strong and boasted about the club's new floodlights, which allowed them to play evening fixtures for the first time in there history.
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The following day we trained at the stadium, got a feel for the surface and then i allowed the squad some free time. In the evening we discussed tactic's for tomorrow's game.
In the league I like to encourage creative freedom and allow the players to express themselves. Slavan Belupo finished 4th in the Croatian 1st division last season and are a much stronger side than we are. This would be no walk in the park.
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Wednesday 15th July 2009
Slaven Belupo 4 - 0 FBK Kaunas
Out shown and out classed. Despite having the majority of possession we struggled to get past there strong and organised defence. It was obvious they had been together a few years and worked as a unit. I don't feel they are too much better than us technically.
I doubt there is too much left to play for in Lithuania except pride and experience. I think it's safe to say, I can put my passport away for a while.