Ugnė Lazdauskaitė: 'We're hoping more girls will get into football in Lithuania'

You were in the squad aged just 15 when Lithuania hosted the 2018 UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship. How important is a tournament like this for the development of young players?

Tournaments like this are really important not only for the players, but for the country as well. Players gain great experience competing against the best teams in their age group and they can also measure their progress over the years. Results-wise we didn’t surprise anyone, but it was all about putting on that Lithuanian shirt in front of the people most important to you on an international stage. I can say that it really helped me in my career getting to where I am now.

What are your fondest memories of playing at youth level for your country?

Memories are not only about what you feel on the pitch, but also about the friendships you make along the way. Of course, wearing your country’s shirt is a very proud moment in itself, but it also helped all of us to make lifelong friendships.

You’ve made over 30 senior appearances for your country, but how did it feel to pull on the Lithuania shirt for the very first time?

The feeling is hard to describe in words. Maybe when you’re younger you don’t fully appreciate it, but later it really kicks in – you are one of the best players in the whole country and you were chosen to represent it.

Ugnė Lazdauskaitė (right) competes at the UEFA Women's Under-17 EURO in 2018Saulius Čirba

What does it mean for Lithuania to host this tournament following on from the Under-17 Championship you played in 2018?

It’s been a while since that tournament, but we remember having really good support for our games. Our families, relatives, friends and fans came and chanted for us. I’m sure that the same will happen this year as well and that all the girls will enjoy this experience and remember it for a long time. We have to be honest with ourselves and admit that this may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for some of these players, so they have to cherish it even more and make the most of it.

Which Lithuanian players should we watch out for?

Probably the captain, Karolina Jasaitytė, and Agnieška Kazarina are ones to keep an eye on. They are already playing in the Lithuanian women’s top flight and they have both been voted as the best young women’s players in Lithuania as well as having already been called up by the senior side. But of course, it’s not an individual sport, it’s all about team effort and I think they can all make an impression.

What sort of legacy will this tournament leave in Lithuania?

We’re hoping that more and more girls will get into football in Lithuania. They will see the beauty of football and will hopefully start training at a grassroots level and later maybe at a professional level too. More and more girls are starting to play football and are finding it attractive. It’s no secret that women’s football has grown massively around the world in these last few years and Lithuania is no exception.

Are there more opportunities for young girls now compared to when you were growing up?

Every year, the number of opportunities is growing and the attitude towards girls’ and women’s football has changed a lot. We hope that this will carry on and there will be continued emphasis on it.

What advice would you give to the players taking part in this year’s tournament?

My only advice to the youngsters would be to enjoy these moments, because you never know when they will come again. Cherish them, share them with all your friends and make memories that will stay with you forever.