Lithuania – Suriname: new coach's debut and a test of resilience in Kaunas
A European side will host a representative of CONCACAF, with both teams approaching the match with different objectives. For Lithuania, it is an opportunity to test their strength against an unconventional opponent, while for the visitors, it is another stage in their preparations for future international tournaments. An additional storyline is that the upcoming encounter will mark the debut of the hosts' new head coach.
Lithuania: a new era begins with a home match
November's international break will be an important occasion for the Lithuania national team. The side has appointed a new head coach, Mindaugas Čepas, who will take charge of his first game at the helm of the national team. Naturally, it is difficult to completely reshape the team's football after only a few training sessions, but the fans will certainly want to see some changes in the organization of play and the players' attitude toward the result.
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Lithuania's recent performances provide grounds for expecting a competitive display. In September, the team defeated Liechtenstein 2-0 away from home, drew 1-1 with Azerbaijan, and then comfortably saw off Andorra 3-0. October, however, ended on a less positive note, with Lithuania suffering a 0-1 away defeat to Azerbaijan.
This time, the team returns home and will look to delight its own supporters. Torino's Gvidas Gineitis should play an important role in building attacks. Paulius Golubickas, Vykintas Slivka and Artur Dolzhnykov also deserve attention. In attack, Armandas Kučys is an intriguing option after receiving a call-up and being available to feature specifically in the friendly against Suriname.
Incidentally, Lithuania's squad for the November camp has already been announced. There are no debutants, although several players are returning after a spell away. This gives Čepas the opportunity to assess the balance between experienced performers and players who have gained extra motivation from returning to the national team.
Suriname: an intriguing group of players and an ambitious coach
Suriname look like a highly intriguing opponent. Although the team represents CONCACAF, a significant proportion of its players compete in European leagues. The visitors should certainly not be underestimated.
The attacking potential of Henk Fraser's team is particularly interesting. West Ham's Joel Piroe has been included in the November squad and has already made his mark in English football. In addition, Mainz's Sheraldo Becker, Gyrano Kerk and Justin Lonwijk of Dynamo Kyiv are players to watch.
The latter is well known to fans and can add dynamism to the team's midfield.
Fraser took charge of the national team in the summer of 2026, signing a long-term contract. His appointment was part of Suriname's preparations for the next international competition cycle. The team previously reached the intercontinental play-off stage of World Cup qualifying, but lost 1-2 to Bolivia and failed to reach the World Cup.
In September, Suriname produced respectable results in the CONCACAF Nations League: defeating Honduras 3-2 and Martinique 2-1, drawing 0-0 with Guatemala, and then losing 0-1 away to the same opponent.
Overall, the visitors have a sufficiently intriguing squad to cause Lithuania serious problems, especially if they can exploit the pace of their wide players and the space behind the defenders.
What can we expect from the match?
From a tactical perspective, much will depend on how quickly Lithuania adapts to the new coach's demands. The hosts will surely want to control possession and take the initiative more often, particularly with the support of the home crowd. However, Suriname are unlikely to simply sit back in defense.
The visitors have enough quick and technically gifted players to launch a dangerous counterattack even against an opponent who looks superior territorially.
As a result, Lithuania will have to pay close attention to the transition phases and avoid unnecessary turnovers in the middle of the pitch.
At the same time, the friendly status of the game may affect its intensity. The coaches will have the opportunity to test different combinations, while substitutions could significantly alter the pattern of play after the break.
On paper, this is a fairly even contest, although Suriname possess a certain edge in the individual quality of some of their players. Lithuania, meanwhile, have home support and the added motivation provided by Mindaugas Čepas's debut.
We expect the hosts to try to play on the front foot, but completely controlling events on the pitch will be difficult. Suriname are capable of exploiting open spaces and creating chances in front of the opposition goal.
Our prediction: both teams to score – yes.
