santiago_hortez
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PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE
The venue is the conference room of the Congress Hotel-the hotel where the Scottish side is camped. Manager Kenny Dalglish and captain Darren Fletcher are in the room to give their first major press conference before the European Championship qualifiers against Lithuania. The press conference began with The Daily Mail beginning the proceedings.
The Daily Mail: This is your first game in the qualifiers. Your thoughts on the event?
Dalglish: We're confident and looking forward to the occasion and we'd love to hit the ground running.
The Times: You begin your campaign away from home. How would it feel missing your home fans?
Dalglish: Obviously, it will be bad but one team had to play home and the other away. So we've no complaints about it. We'll do our best and give the fans something to cheer about.
Aberdeen Independent: You've been handed a tough group with Czech Republic and Spain the two major opponents. What are your chances in this qualifying campaign?
Dalglish: Realistically speaking, on paper, we're expected to fight for second place with Czech Republic. But on the field, anything is possible. Also, who knows? Two good results against Czech Republic and one creditable upset against Spain could just put us through to the finals as group toppers.
Daily Record: A question to both you and Mr. Fletcher. How would your current problems with Sir Alex be viewed by each of you?
Fletcher: Like I said earlier, I just want to concentrate on playing football, so I'm not really worried about it. I just want to give my best on the field to both club and country.
Dalglish: Many managers make comments about me in the game. But I usually don't prefer to care about it and like going about my own business. Simply put, I don't think I have time for Sir Alex.
Dundee Messenger: Your plans for this game-will it be all attacking or counterattacking?
Dalglish: I would say, that depends on the game itself. The way we play and the way they play. So nothing definite as of now. That concludes this press conference. There really is no time and we must get going. So, maybe after the match, we can talk more.
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SCOTLAND EDGE OUT LITHUANIA
Riordan nets last gasp winner for visitors as Dalglish gets off to a winning start in the mission to Europe.
Scotland came close to suffering at the hands of Lithuania here at the S.Darius and S. Girenas Stadium in Vilnius but somehow managed a 2-1 win. The late kickoff, which started about one hour after the game in Liechtenstein ended- where Spain hammered the hosts 7-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Fernando Torres and two braces from Pedro and David Villa-almost saw an upset when Lithuanian defender Andreas Skerla gave the hosts the lead in the 16th minute, heading home a powerful corner that deceived McGregor, forcing the latter to get off his line and attempt a missed punch at the ball. Skerla had no trouble scoring from three yards out.
Lithuania continued to press on for the second goal and almost got it when Devidas Cesnauskis hit the crossbar with an edge-of-the-area shot and two minutes later, Arvydas Novikovas forced a save off McGregor from close range. The Scots, for their part, also attacked pretty well and Graham Dorrans and Charlie Adam both forced rapid saves from the Lithuanian keeper. Steven Fletcher had a great chance to level the game in the forty first when he found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The resultant lob went flying above the bar. One-nil to Lithuania at halftime.
Two changes were made at halftime-both Steven Fletcher and Kenny Miller came off for Gary O'Connor and Derek Riordan. The new substitutes made instant impact as both off them saw their shots rattle the woordwork within the first three minutes of restart. It was in the 59th minute after continuous pressure that Scotland found their equaliser. Darren Fletcher played a brilliant pass to Charlie Adam, who wasted no time lobbing the ball past two defenders straight to O'Connor's feet. The Birmingham City striker then dribbled the ball past a defender before setting up Charlie Adam again in the box. The Blackpool captain made no mistake in slotting the ball past the Lithuanian keeper.
With time running out fast, it was Kevin Thomson, who stole the ball from Danilevicius and then cleared it aerially. The loose ball was pounced upon by Derek Riordan. The Hibs striker then went past the last defender and coolly finished the move with a placed shot from the penalty area. 2-1 to Scotland in the 83rd minute and the score stayed that way.
A memorable way to begin a campaign for Dalglish and his boys, who now return to Ibrox Stadium tomorrow in preparation for the game against Liechtenstein, who will be arriving at midnight to Celtic Park, their training centre.
LITHUANIA 1 (Andreas Skerla)
SCOTLAND 2 (Charlie Adam, Derek Riordan)
The venue is the conference room of the Congress Hotel-the hotel where the Scottish side is camped. Manager Kenny Dalglish and captain Darren Fletcher are in the room to give their first major press conference before the European Championship qualifiers against Lithuania. The press conference began with The Daily Mail beginning the proceedings.
The Daily Mail: This is your first game in the qualifiers. Your thoughts on the event?
Dalglish: We're confident and looking forward to the occasion and we'd love to hit the ground running.
The Times: You begin your campaign away from home. How would it feel missing your home fans?
Dalglish: Obviously, it will be bad but one team had to play home and the other away. So we've no complaints about it. We'll do our best and give the fans something to cheer about.
Aberdeen Independent: You've been handed a tough group with Czech Republic and Spain the two major opponents. What are your chances in this qualifying campaign?
Dalglish: Realistically speaking, on paper, we're expected to fight for second place with Czech Republic. But on the field, anything is possible. Also, who knows? Two good results against Czech Republic and one creditable upset against Spain could just put us through to the finals as group toppers.
Daily Record: A question to both you and Mr. Fletcher. How would your current problems with Sir Alex be viewed by each of you?
Fletcher: Like I said earlier, I just want to concentrate on playing football, so I'm not really worried about it. I just want to give my best on the field to both club and country.
Dalglish: Many managers make comments about me in the game. But I usually don't prefer to care about it and like going about my own business. Simply put, I don't think I have time for Sir Alex.
Dundee Messenger: Your plans for this game-will it be all attacking or counterattacking?
Dalglish: I would say, that depends on the game itself. The way we play and the way they play. So nothing definite as of now. That concludes this press conference. There really is no time and we must get going. So, maybe after the match, we can talk more.
-----------------------------------------------------------
SCOTLAND EDGE OUT LITHUANIA
Riordan nets last gasp winner for visitors as Dalglish gets off to a winning start in the mission to Europe.
Scotland came close to suffering at the hands of Lithuania here at the S.Darius and S. Girenas Stadium in Vilnius but somehow managed a 2-1 win. The late kickoff, which started about one hour after the game in Liechtenstein ended- where Spain hammered the hosts 7-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Fernando Torres and two braces from Pedro and David Villa-almost saw an upset when Lithuanian defender Andreas Skerla gave the hosts the lead in the 16th minute, heading home a powerful corner that deceived McGregor, forcing the latter to get off his line and attempt a missed punch at the ball. Skerla had no trouble scoring from three yards out.
Lithuania continued to press on for the second goal and almost got it when Devidas Cesnauskis hit the crossbar with an edge-of-the-area shot and two minutes later, Arvydas Novikovas forced a save off McGregor from close range. The Scots, for their part, also attacked pretty well and Graham Dorrans and Charlie Adam both forced rapid saves from the Lithuanian keeper. Steven Fletcher had a great chance to level the game in the forty first when he found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The resultant lob went flying above the bar. One-nil to Lithuania at halftime.
Two changes were made at halftime-both Steven Fletcher and Kenny Miller came off for Gary O'Connor and Derek Riordan. The new substitutes made instant impact as both off them saw their shots rattle the woordwork within the first three minutes of restart. It was in the 59th minute after continuous pressure that Scotland found their equaliser. Darren Fletcher played a brilliant pass to Charlie Adam, who wasted no time lobbing the ball past two defenders straight to O'Connor's feet. The Birmingham City striker then dribbled the ball past a defender before setting up Charlie Adam again in the box. The Blackpool captain made no mistake in slotting the ball past the Lithuanian keeper.
With time running out fast, it was Kevin Thomson, who stole the ball from Danilevicius and then cleared it aerially. The loose ball was pounced upon by Derek Riordan. The Hibs striker then went past the last defender and coolly finished the move with a placed shot from the penalty area. 2-1 to Scotland in the 83rd minute and the score stayed that way.
A memorable way to begin a campaign for Dalglish and his boys, who now return to Ibrox Stadium tomorrow in preparation for the game against Liechtenstein, who will be arriving at midnight to Celtic Park, their training centre.
LITHUANIA 1 (Andreas Skerla)
SCOTLAND 2 (Charlie Adam, Derek Riordan)
Dalglish On The Match:
"Great start. I was slightly disappointed with our first half but we did very well in the second. I was delighted with Derek (Riordan) and Gary (O'Connor). They impressed me. The defence looked solid and the midfield was very creative today. All credit to the team for a good performance."
Eurosport Analysts Initial Comments
One: A shaky performance from the Scots but I think it was good enough for them to beat Lithuania, who looked less than their best in the second half
Two: An average Scotland at best. Definitely not the best performance from the Highlanders but they still deserved three points.
Three: A good game. Lithuania gave it more of a fight than we expected. I think this made Scotland see average even though, personally I feel they were very good. Adam and Riordan looked solid today as did the defence.
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KIU
