Lithuania vs Malta: Prediction and Match Preview

September 4. 19:00. Kaunas
2026 World Cup Qualifiers, 5th round

Lithuania vs Malta: Bookmaker Odds

Lithuania

The match against Malta on Thursday evening in Kaunas could be the breakthrough that the Lithuania national team and its fans have eagerly awaited. It has been a year and a half since their last victory in an official game.

In June, when these teams first met on Malta, it ended in a disappointing 0:0 draw, only heightening their desire to win.

The opponent from the small Mediterranean island might theoretically pose a challenge even for a team ranked 143rd in the FIFA world rankings, but in reality, Lithuanian football has faced increasingly tough scenarios in recent years.

International wins have dried up like a summer stream. The team under Edgaras Jankauskas last triumphed in an official match in March last year, defeating Gibraltar in a League of Nations UEFA Division C survival game.

Since then, the Lithuanians have been relegated to Division D, and their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign has started unpromisingly.

Now, under the lights of the Darius and Girėnas Stadium, the Lithuanian players have a chance to rewrite their story—from tales of missed opportunities and untapped potential to the first step toward a new era, where victory becomes reality, not just a dream.

"This time, preparation was much shorter, but the guys worked hard and absorbed a huge amount of information we wanted to convey. We aim to be well-prepared not only physically but also theoretically and tactically. The new faces were warmly welcomed, and in my view, we\'ve assembled the best possible squad right now. Everyone deserves to be here. Defeats sting, but this team is a united force that will push toward victory.

We did enough in that hour to secure a positive result, but it didn\'t happen, and then came a very tough stretch. Still, I have to praise the team for finding the strength and resources, for their ability to create and endure. I tell the players that every match has easy and difficult phases. What matters most is what happens in those hard moments—whether we suffer through or give up. What I like best is that even in such games, when we\'re struggling, we maintain our structure, fighting spirit, desire, and belief," stated head coach Jankauskas.

He admitted that in the first encounter on Malta, the Lithuania team performed well only for the first 60 minutes before fading.

Due to muscle injuries in the back of the legs, Vykintas Slivka and Matas Vareika are absent from the national squad; Pijus Sirvys underwent appendix surgery, defender Kipras Kazukolovas is out with a serious knee ligament injury, and Manfredas Ruzgis has a broken leg.

Malta

The Malta national team, ranked 168th in the FIFA world rankings, arrives in Kaunas without three key players. Captain Matthew Guillaumier, who recently moved to the Greek club Panseraikos, will miss this match due to a one-game suspension. Also absent due to injuries are two crucial Malta players: forward Teddy Teuma and defender James Lee Carragher.

On a brighter note, young defender Cain Shawkluna, currently on loan from Hamrun Spartans to Zabbar St. Patrick, has earned his first call-up to the national team, and Yannick Yankam from Valletta has returned to the squad after missing several recent international matches.

Additionally, Ilias Cuore and Jodi Jones have come back after missing the June games due to suspension and injury, respectively.

Lithuania vs Malta: Predicted Lineups

Lithuania: Gertmonas; Ustas, Kazukolovas, Utkus, Lascikas; Slivka, Gineitis, Vorobjovas, Sirgedas, Cernych; Paulauskas

Malta: Bonello; Muscat, Pepe, Shaw, Camenzuli; Satrino, Grech, Yankam; Jones, P. Mbong, J. Mbong

Lithuania vs Malta: Author\'s Prediction

Surprisingly, the Malta team appears more cohesive and skilled, having shifted from a defensive approach to one that emphasizes attack over the past few years—a contrast to Lithuania. Thus, I expect a win for the visitors, even though they couldn\'t beat the Lithuanians at home.