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Latvia national football team

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Latvia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)11 vilki[1]
(11 Wolves)
AssociationLatvijas Futbola federācija (LFF)
ConfederationUEFA
Head coachPaolo Nicolato
CaptainKristers Tobers
Most capsVitālijs Astafjevs (167)
Top scorerMāris Verpakovskis (29)
Home stadiumSkonto Stadium
Daugava Stadium (rare matches)
FIFA codeLVA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 140 Decrease 3 (28 November 2024)[2]
Highest45 (November 2009)
Lowest148 (September 2017)
First international
 Latvia 1–1 Estonia 
(Riga, Latvia; 24 September 1922)
Biggest win
 Latvia 6–1 Lithuania 
(Riga, Latvia; 30 May 1935)
 Latvia 5–0 Lithuania 
(Võru, Estonia; 1 June 2012)
 Gibraltar 0–5 Latvia 
(Gibraltar; 29 March 2016)
 Andorra 0–5 Latvia 
(Andorra la Vella, Andorra; 17 November 2020)
Biggest defeat
 Sweden 12–0 Latvia 
(Stockholm, Sweden; 29 May 1927)
European Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2004)
Best resultGroup stage (2004)
Baltic Cup
Appearances29 (first in 1928)
Best resultChampions (1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)

The Latvia national football team (Latvian: Latvijas futbola izlase) represents Latvia in men's international football, and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia. They have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but did qualify for the European Championship in 2004 under head coach Aleksandrs Starkovs.

Latvia, alongside their Baltic rivals, Lithuania and Estonia, have also participated in the local sub-regional Baltic Cup tournament, which takes place every two years. Latvia has won the Baltic Cup championship a record 13 times, more than any other country in the history of the tournament, most recently in 2018.

Latvia's current home ground is the Daugava Stadium in Riga, although since the autumn of 2022 most games have been held at Skonto Stadium.

History

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Early years

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The Latvia national football team played their first official match on September 24, 1922, against Estonia, resulting in a 1–1 draw. The first goal in the team's history was scored by forward Edvīns Bārda. In 1920, the Latvian Football Union (today - Latvijas Futbola federācija) was established, which led to the formation of the national team. Latvia participated in the Football at the 1924 Summer Olympics, but lost their only match 0–7 to France. The team's first victory came on October 18, 1924, against Estonia, winning 2–0.[4]

In 1928, Latvia triumphed in the inaugural Baltic Cup, defeating the national teams of Lithuania and Estonia. During the 1920s, some of the standout players included goalkeeper Arvīds Jurgens and the Bārda brothers—Edvīns, Arvīds, and Rūdolfs—as well as Voldemārs Grāvelis, Arnolds Tauriņš, and Alberts Šeibelis.

The 1930s marked a period of growth for the Latvian national team, particularly between 1936 and 1938 under Austrian coach Rudolf Stanzl. Latvia frequently played friendly matches against teams such as Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, and Poland. In 1937, Latvia participated in the 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification. Placed in Group 8 alongside Austria and Lithuania, Latvia achieved notable victories, beating Lithuania 4–2 in Riga, with a Fricis Kaņeps hat-trick and a goal from Iļja Vestermans. In Kaunas, they secured a 5–1 win with two goals each from Kaņeps, Vaclavs Borduško, and Iļja Vestermans. However, they lost 1–2 in a decisive away match against Austria, despite an early goal from Vestermans.

In April 1938, Austria's Anschluss rendered their team ineligible to participate in the FIFA World Cup. Despite Latvia being the group's runner-up, FIFA did not invite them to replace Austria.

Latvia played 99 official matches during the pre-war period from 1922 to 1940 and won the Baltic Cup 12 times. The last match of the pre-war Latvian national team was on July 18, 1940, against Estonia, ending in a 1–2 loss. The outbreak of World War II initially limited and eventually halted the team's activities entirely. During the German and Soviet occupations, the Latvian national team ceased to exist in its form during Latvia's independence.

The best players of the 1930s included Jānis Lidmanis, Ēriks Raisters, Jānis Rozītis, Fricis Kaņeps, Iļja Vestermans, and Aleksandrs Vanags. Ēriks Pētersons is considered the greatest Latvian footballer of the pre-war era, having scored 21 goals in 63 matches for the national team.

Latvian SSR National Team During the Soviet Era (1940–1991)

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Latvian football's evident growth was abruptly halted and devastated when, in 1940, Latvia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union. The largest internal sports event in the Soviet Union was the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR. Football was included in some editions, featuring teams representing the Soviet republics, as well as Moscow and Leningrad. In the 1956 Spartakiad, Latvia was represented by FC Daugava Riga. The team played four matches, securing three victories and suffering one defeat, with a goal difference of 10–7. [5]

Football returned to the Spartakiad program only in 1979, and once again, Latvia was represented by FC Daugava Riga. However, the results were poor, with one victory and five losses, and a goal difference of 10–16. In subsequent Spartakiads, youth teams (under 20 years old) participated instead.

During the Soviet occupation, the Latvian SSR national football team continued to compete in the Baltic Cup — a tournament first held in 1928 — until 1976.

The Early Years of the Restored Latvian National Team (1992–1997)

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The country regained its independence in 1991, before, in 1990, the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) was reestablished, and Latvia rejoined FIFA shortly after regaining independence. However, the Latvian national football team had to be built from scratch. In December 1991, during an LFF executive committee meeting, Jānis Gilis was appointed as the first head coach of the restored national team. It was decided that the position of national team head coach was of such importance that it should not be combined with any club coaching roles. Gilis committed to focusing entirely on the national team, stepping down from his role with FK Pārdaugava's youth team. His competitor for the position, Marks Zahodins, expressed willingness to support Gilis as an assistant coach if needed.

Following his appointment, Gilis emphasized the challenge of assembling a team from scratch, meeting with potential players, and ensuring that those selected prioritized national pride above all else. The experimental team fielded in the autumn of 1991 was put together hastily, even lacking proper kits initially. Offers from international suppliers soon resolved this issue, and Gilis selected Vadims Ulbergs and Vladimirs Beškarevs as his assistants.

Latvia's first victory came on July 10, 1992, with a 2–1 win over Estonia, thanks to two goals by Ainārs Linards. Later that summer, Latvia began its campaign in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament. The team achieved historic draws against Spain (0–0) and Denmark (0–0) but suffered heavy defeats to Spain (0–5) and Ireland (0–4). With five draws and five points, Latvia finished 6th out of 7 teams in their group. Key players during this period included former Riga "Daugava" stars such as Jurijs Popkovs, Jurijs Ševļakovs, Oļegs Aleksejenko, Ainārs Linards, and Oļegs Karavajevs, as well as promising newcomers like Mihails Zemļinskis and Vitālijs Astafjevs.

In the qualification campaign for the 1996 UEFA European Championship, Latvia demonstrated increasing competitiveness, securing wins against Austria and Northern Ireland. The most memorable match of the campaign was a 2–3 loss to Portugal in Porto, where Latvia rallied from a 0–3 halftime deficit with two goals from young striker Vīts Rimkus, who became the team's top scorer of the campaign with five goals in five matches. This period also saw the emergence of new talents such as Imants Bleidelis, Andrejs Štolcers, and Igors Stepanovs.

In the qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Latvia faced tough competition, narrowly losing to Austria, Scotland, and Sweden. However, the team secured victories against Belarus and Estonia. By this time, the squad's core included Skonto FC players such as Vitālijs Astafjevs, Igors Stepanovs, Marians Pahars, and Andrejs Štolcers.

In late 1997, Jānis Gilis stepped down as head coach, marking the end of an era. Around the same time, team captain and defensive leader Jurijs Ševļakovs retired from international football. These years laid the groundwork for Latvia's growing competitiveness on the international stage.

The 100st Game of the Restored Latvian National Team

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On April 8, 1992, after a 52-year hiatus, the restored Latvian national football team played its first match in Bucharest, losing 0–2 to Romania. This marked Latvia's 100th match in its football history, with 10,000 spectators in attendance. The players experienced unfamiliar conditions, as accommodations, catering, and training facilities were of the highest standard.

A notable figure in the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) delegation was Vadims Ulbergs, who had witnessed the previous match between Latvia and Romania in 1937, a 0–0 draw at the ASK Stadium in Riga. The match in Bucharest attracted significant media attention, with representatives from all teams in the upcoming qualification cycle present, including the renowned Belgian coach Paul van Himst.

Romania fielded an almost full-strength team, with the only notable absence being Gheorghe Hagi, who was withheld by Real Madrid. The match also marked the debut of Romania's coach, Cornel Dinu. The game was hosted at the Complexul Sportiv Steaua, referred to as the "Temple of Romanian Football," built under the direction of one of Nicolae Ceaușescu's sons and maintained by the army. Tickets for the match were priced at 150 lei, approximately $2.50.

Latvia’s head coach, Jānis Gilis, opted to trust younger players and implemented a tactical scheme with two free defenders, placing additional pressure on the midfielders and forwards. The first half was promising, but in the second half, a lack of discipline allowed Romania to dominate territorially.

The match began with a costly mistake when goalkeeper Raimonds Laizāns slipped while preparing to save a 30-meter shot from Pavel Badea, allowing the ball to soar into the net. Latvia had an opportunity to equalize when Aivars Drupass, assisted by Jurijs Popkovs, made a sharp strike from six meters, but Romania’s goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea reacted brilliantly. Another defensive error early in the second half led to Romania’s second goal. Despite this, Laizāns recovered his composure, earning applause for saving a free kick by Gabi Balint in the 84th minute.

Rolands Bulders also came close to scoring but couldn’t produce a strong enough shot in a favorable position. While the team showed resilience, Gilis expressed disappointment with some players, including Vitālijs Teplovs and Aivars Drupass, who played with a minor injury. Ilmārs Verpakovskis, meanwhile, struggled due to his age. Gilis emphasized the need for a stronger attack, acknowledging that solid defense alone wouldn’t secure victories.

Romanian observers were astonished to learn that none of the Latvian players had ever competed for the Soviet national team or played in the Soviet Top League. This game provided Latvia with an opportunity to showcase its potential on the international stage, serving as a catalyst for growth. However, progress was hampered by a lack of professionalism in some teams and a casual attitude toward training among certain players.

Interestingly, in the early years, the Latvian national team coach’s salary was 8,500 rubles, equivalent to just $55.

The Starkovs–Verpakovskis Era and UEFA Euro 2004 (2001–2004)

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Following Gary Johnson's departure, the experienced Skonto FC head coach Aleksandrs Starkovs was appointed as the head coach of the Latvian national team. Under Starkovs' leadership, Latvia finished the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification cycle with three narrow defeats against group favorites, showcasing the team's growing competitiveness.

Marians Pahars Against Scotland in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

The UEFA Euro 2004 qualification campaign began with a 0–0 draw against Sweden, followed by a vital 1–0 victory over Poland. Latvia then secured two wins against San Marino but suffered a setback with a loss to Hungary. Māris Verpakovskis emerged as the team's new offensive leader, replacing injury-plagued Marians Pahars, while veteran striker Vīts Rimkus returned to the squad.

Despite a 0–2 loss to Poland, which complicated Latvia’s position in the standings, the team rebounded with a 3–1 win over Hungary and a crucial 1–0 victory against Sweden. Verpakovskis scored in both matches, helping Latvia secure second place in their group and earn a spot in the play-offs.

In November 2003, Latvia faced Turkey, a strong opponent who had recently reached the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In the first leg in Riga, Verpakovskis scored the only goal, giving Latvia a 1–0 advantage. The second leg in Istanbul was dramatic, with Turkey taking a 2–0 lead. However, Latvia fought back with goals from Juris Laizāns and Verpakovskis, securing a 2–2 draw. With a 3–2 aggregate victory, Latvia qualified for the UEFA European Championship for the first time in its history.

Latvia's National Team Celebrates Euro 2004 Qualification in Turkey

The key players during this period included Verpakovskis, captain Vitālijs Astafjevs, midfielders Juris Laizāns and Andrejs Rubins, defenders Mihails Zemļinskis and Igors Stepanovs, and goalkeeper Aleksandrs Koliņko.

Performance at UEFA Euro 2004

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In the Euro 2004 finals held in Portugal, Latvia was drawn into a challenging group alongside the Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands. In their opening match, Latvia delivered a strong performance but lost 1–2 to the Czech Republic, with Verpakovskis scoring Latvia’s first-ever goal in a major tournament.

Latvian fans at Euro 2004

The second match against Germany was historic, as Latvia achieved a 0–0 draw, earning their first point at a European Championship. The final group stage match saw Latvia face the Netherlands, where they suffered a 0–3 defeat, ending their journey in the tournament.

Although Latvia did not advance past the group stage, their performances, especially the draw against Germany, were widely praised. The campaign marked a golden era for Latvian football, with Starkovs' strategic leadership and Verpakovskis' outstanding form bringing the team to unprecedented heights.

This period remains a cornerstone in Latvian football history, demonstrating the team’s ability to compete on the European stage and inspiring future generations.

Starkovs' Dismissal and Return

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2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification

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After Latvia's historic success at UEFA Euro 2004, Aleksandrs Starkovs remained at the helm of the national team, but subsequent results failed to meet the high expectations set during the golden era. Latvia struggled in the qualification campaigns for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. The team faced challenges in maintaining consistency, and the departure of key players like Māris Verpakovskis and Mihails Zemļinskis from their peak form further weakened the squad.

Under Aleksandrs Starkovs, Latvia began its 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, but controversy struck in the opening match against Portugal when Starkovs was suspended for six games. His assistant, Jurijs Andrejevs, took charge from the sidelines, while Starkovs continued as head coach for the next four matches.

In November 2004, Starkovs resigned from his role, opting to manage Spartak Moscow in Russia. Andrejevs was promoted to head coach but failed to deliver notable success. Latvia ended the qualification cycle in 5th place in their group with 15 points from 12 matches. The team managed victories only against Luxembourg and Liechtenstein and drew with Russia, Estonia, and Slovakia. Notably, Latvia suffered their first defeat to Estonia since 1940, losing 1–2.

2008 UEFA European Championship Qualification

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Latvia’s campaign for the 2008 UEFA European Championship began in a group featuring Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Northern Ireland, and Liechtenstein. The team started with a narrow 0–1 loss to Sweden at home, followed by a commanding 4–0 victory over Iceland and a 0–1 defeat to Northern Ireland.

Dzintars Zirnis in a Battle Against Sergio Ramos

After a shock loss to Liechtenstein in March 2007, Andrejevs resigned as head coach. In April, Aleksandrs Starkovs returned to lead the team. Under his guidance, Latvia achieved victories over Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Northern Ireland, but suffered defeats to Spain, Denmark, and Sweden. Latvia concluded the qualification cycle in 5th place in their group.

2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification

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During his second tenure, Starkovs aimed to rebuild the team by integrating younger players while relying on experienced veterans like Vitālijs Astafjevs and Māris Verpakovskis to provide leadership. While Latvia did not achieve the same level of success as during the early 2000s, Starkovs' influence helped maintain competitiveness and ensured that the team remained a respected opponent in international football. In the fall of 2008, Latvia began their qualification campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Drawn into a group with Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, and Luxembourg, Latvia opened with a 2–1 victory over Moldova in Chișinău. However, the team then suffered defeats to group favorites Greece (0–2 at home) and Switzerland (1–2 away), despite a header goal from Deniss Ivanovs.

Latvia bounced back with a 1–1 draw against Israel in Riga and two wins against Luxembourg (4–0 away and 2–0 at home). In a pivotal autumn match, Latvia defeated Israel 1–0 in Tel Aviv, keeping their hopes alive for a top-two finish.

On September 9, 2009, Latvia drew 2–2 against Switzerland at Skonto Stadium, maintaining their contention for second place as Greece surprisingly drew 1–1 against Moldova in Chișinău. At this stage, Latvia remained in a competitive position to vie for a spot in the FIFA World Cup.

Latvia's National Team Draws Against Switzerland in 2009

In the penultimate and decisive match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, Latvia faced Greece at the Athens Olympic Stadium. Despite taking a 2–1 lead in the first half through Māris Verpakovskis, a controversial penalty awarded to Greece early in the second half turned the tide. Theofanis Gekas scored from the spot and added two more goals, while Georgios Samaras also found the net, resulting in a 2–5 loss for Latvia.

In the final match of the campaign, Latvia defeated Moldova 3–2 at home. Despite finishing third in the group, Latvia narrowly missed out on qualification.

His second term further solidified Starkovs’ legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of Latvian football, showcasing his dedication and impact on the national team’s development.

Group Standings Situation As of the decisive matches, the group standings were tightly contested, with Latvia demonstrating resilience and ambition under Starkovs’ leadership. The team's ability to challenge strong opponents marked a continued effort to build on the success of the early 2000s.

Position Team Points
1.   Switzerland 17
2.  Greece 14
3.  Latvia 14
4.  Israel 12
5.  Luxembourg 5
6.  Moldova 3

2012 UEFA European Championship Qualification

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From September 2010 to October 2011, Latvia competed in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualification tournament, drawn into Group F with Greece, Croatia, Israel, Georgia, and Malta.

Latvia began the campaign with a 0–3 home defeat to Croatia, followed by a 2–0 away win against Malta. In October, Latvia lost 0–1 to Greece in Athens but secured a last-minute 1–1 draw against Georgia in Riga thanks to Aleksandrs Cauņa equalizer.

The 2011 campaign saw Latvia lose twice to Israel (1–2 both home and away) before securing a 1–0 victory against Georgia in Tbilisi and a 1–1 draw with Greece in Riga. Latvia ended the cycle with a 2–0 win over Malta but concluded with a 0–2 loss to Croatia. Latvia finished fourth in the group, missing out on qualification.

2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification

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Latvia participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification from September 2012 to October 2013. The team was placed in Group G alongside Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, and Liechtenstein.

Latvia started with losses to Greece (1–2), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1–4), and Slovakia (1–2) but managed a 2–0 victory against Liechtenstein. However, their form faltered in 2013, starting with a disappointing 1–1 draw against Liechtenstein and a heavy 0–5 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Following the Bosnia defeat, there were calls within the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) to dismiss head coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, but the board voted against it. Despite the decision, Starkovs later submitted his resignation.

Transition to Pahars’ Leadership

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After Starkovs' resignation, former national team player Marians Pahars was appointed as head coach with a contract extending until the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification cycle. This marked a new chapter for the Latvian national team, as Pahars sought to rejuvenate the squad and improve its competitiveness on the international stage.

Latvian National Team Under Marians Pahars (2013–2017)

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First Matches and Early Success Marians Pahars’ tenure as head coach of the Latvian national football team began with a friendly match against Estonia, which ended in a 1–1 draw. His first victory came on September 6, 2013, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, with a 2–1 win against Lithuania in Riga. However, the team suffered two away losses (0–1 against both Greece and Lithuania) before finishing the campaign with a 2–2 draw against Slovakia. Latvia concluded the qualification cycle in 5th place in their group, ahead of Liechtenstein but trailing Lithuania by three points.

Baltic Cup Victory (2014) In the 2014 Baltic Cup, Latvia defeated Estonia in the semifinals following a penalty shootout and secured the title by beating Lithuania 1–0 in the final, with Nauris Bulvītis scoring the winning goal. This victory marked Latvia's 22nd Baltic Cup win.

2016 UEFA European Championship Qualification The Euro 2016 qualification campaign was Pahars’ first full qualification cycle as head coach. Latvia was drawn into Group A alongside the Czech Republic, Iceland, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, and Turkey.

Latvia started with a 0–0 draw away against Kazakhstan. They then lost 0–3 at home to Iceland, followed by a 1–1 draw with Turkey. A heavy 0–6 defeat to the Netherlands concluded the year. In 2015, Latvia drew 1–1 against the Czech Republic, conceding an equalizer in the 90th minute, and lost 0–2 in a rematch against the Netherlands.

A 1–1 draw in Turkey and a 2–2 draw in Iceland highlighted occasional resilience. However, the campaign ended on a sour note with a 0–1 home defeat to Kazakhstan, leaving Latvia in last place (6th) in the group standings. Baltic Cup Success (2016) Latvia rebounded in June 2016 by winning the Baltic Cup for the 23rd time. They defeated Lithuania 2–1 and drew 0–0 with Estonia to secure the title.

2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification and Resignation

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Latvia began their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a promising 1–0 away win against Andorra. However, the team struggled in subsequent matches:

Losses to the Faroe Islands (0–2), Hungary (0–2), Portugal (1–4), and Switzerland (0–1) followed. On March 28, 2017, Latvia suffered a crushing 0–5 defeat to Georgia in a friendly match. This prompted Marians Pahars to submit his resignation, ending his tenure as head coach.

Despite occasional successes, including two Baltic Cup victories, Pahars’ time as coach was marked by inconsistency in competitive matches, culminating in a disappointing World Cup qualification campaign.

Starkovs' Third Stint and Foreign Coaches (2017–2020)

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Starkovs' Third Term On April 19, 2017, Aleksandrs Starkovs was appointed head coach of the Latvian national team for the third time, replacing Marians Pahars. Starkovs' return saw a series of disappointing results, with the sole victory being a 1–0 win against Andorra on October 10 in the final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

During his tenure, Latvia reached its lowest-ever FIFA World Ranking, falling to 148th place in September 2017. After a shocking 0–1 loss to Gibraltar on March 25, 2018, Starkovs was dismissed.

Miksu Paatelainen (2018–2019) On May 24, 2018, Finnish coach Miksu Paatelainen was appointed head coach. Under his leadership, Latvia won the 2018 Baltic Cup, a bright moment amidst otherwise underwhelming results.

Latvia’s campaign in the 2018–2019 UEFA Nations League was disappointing. In their League D group alongside Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Andorra, Latvia failed to win a match, collecting only four points and finishing third in the group. Following these results, Paatelainen left his position.

Slaviša Stojanović (2019–2020) On March 1, 2019, Slovenian coach Slaviša Stojanović was named head coach. His tenure was marked by a record nine consecutive defeats during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualification campaign. Latvia managed only one win, a surprise 1–0 victory over Austria in their final group match.

Latvia finished last in their group, which included Poland, Austria, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Israel. In January 2020, the Latvian Football Federation terminated its contract with Stojanović, ending a tumultuous chapter in the team’s history.

This period highlighted Latvia’s struggles on the international stage, with fleeting moments of success overshadowed by poor performances and instability at the managerial level.

Dainis Kazakevičs’ Era: The Positive Vector and Challenges (2020–2023)

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In early 2020, the Latvian football community increasingly voiced the need for a local specialist to lead the national team—someone familiar with the nuances of Latvian football. Amid political uncertainty within the Latvian Football Federation (LFF), which was briefly without a president, the regular rotation of head coaches seemed unlikely to yield a long-term solution. Thus, following Slaviša Stojanović’s dismissal, Dainis Kazakevičs was appointed as head coach for a three-year term.

Early Struggles and Nations League Campaigns In the 2020–2021 UEFA Nations League, Latvia competed in Group D alongside the Faroe Islands, Malta, and Andorra. Despite high hopes, the team failed to secure a win in its first five matches, drawing four and losing to Malta. Latvia finally claimed a decisive 5–0 victory against Andorra in the last game but finished third in the group.

Despite this disappointing start, the LFF remained committed to Kazakevičs’ long-term vision. This decision bore fruit with an eight-match unbeaten streak (including friendlies) and Latvia's triumph in the 2022–2023 UEFA Nations League. Latvia won their group against Andorra, Moldova, and Liechtenstein, securing promotion to League C.

Late Setbacks and Narrow Success The campaign nearly unraveled in the penultimate match, where Latvia suffered a surprising 1–2 defeat to Moldova in front of a packed home crowd in Riga. This result left the decisive final game against Andorra fraught with tension.

In Andorra, Latvia took the lead in the 50th minute through Vladislavs Gutkovskis. However, a critical error by goalkeeper Pāvels Šteinbors allowed Andorra to equalize two minutes before full time. The draw left the team stunned, but Latvia retained first place in the group due to a superior goal difference over Moldova, earning promotion to League C. Unfortunately, the shaky end to the season dashed Latvia’s hopes of securing a playoff spot for UEFA Euro 2024.

Mounting Criticism and Kazakevičs’ Departure Kazakevičs faced criticism from the outset, with skeptics questioning his suitability for the role. Although the five-match winning streak in 2022 brought some relief, doubts persisted. By 2023, public pressure reached a peak, with the slogan “DainisOut” gaining traction.

The national team’s performance in 2023 exacerbated discontent. Out of ten matches, Latvia lost nine, scoring just two goals in their last six games. Even a win over Armenia was overshadowed by fan protests, as supporters demonstratively left the stands during the first half, demanding Kazakevičs’ resignation.

The sustained public and media pressure eventually led to the termination of Kazakevičs’ contract, bringing an end to his tenure as head coach.

Legacy Kazakevičs’ era was a mix of modest successes and persistent challenges. While Latvia’s Nations League promotion to League C marked a positive milestone, inconsistent performances and public dissatisfaction highlighted the difficulty of building a cohesive and competitive national team.

Team image

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Kits

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Latvia's kit is traditionally a carmine red jersey with white trim, carmine red shorts and socks, whilst their current away kit is all predominantly white. Latvia's kits have been produced by various manufacturers.

Crest

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Until July 2018, the team crest consisted of the Latvian Football Federation logo, when it was switched to a shield with a football in the colors of the Latvian flag and 'LATVIJA' written above. A similar crest with a head of a howling wolf was also unveiled as a secondary logo for use in souvenirs etc. as part of the #11vilki (#11wolves) brand.[6]

Kit suppliers

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Kit supplier Period
England Umbro 1992-1994
Germany Adidas 1994-1996
Austria Tro 1996–1998
Germany Puma 1998–2000
Switzerland Tramondi 2000–2002
Germany Adidas 2002–present

Media coverage

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All Latvian matches are currently broadcast with full commentary on the Go3 web streaming service, owned by TV3 Group. Since the 1990s, LTV7 (initially LTV2) was the broadcaster of all of the team games, before the All Media Baltics conglomerate took over broadcasting rights in September 2018.[7] Games were broadcast on the group's TV6 channel and the TVPlay and Viaplay streaming platforms. All Media Baltics later became TV3 Group.

From the 2022 season until the 2028 season, Latvia's home and away qualifiers, and friendlies both home and away were broadcast live exclusively by Swedish Viaplay Group on their web streaming service. On 20 July 2023, Viaplay announced that it will leave the market of the Baltic states.[8][9] Upon exiting, all sports licences owned by Viasat - including the Baltic broadcasting rights for the Baltic Cup, UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Formula 1 and the NHL - were acquired by TV3 Group.[10] This means that the matches of the Latvian national football team are returning LTV7, in September 2024.[11][12]

Stadium

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In recent years, the home venue of the team has fluctuated between Skonto Stadium and the Daugava Stadium in Riga. Daugava was the main venue of the team from 1992 to 2000, when Skonto Stadium was unveiled as a temporary location due to the planned renovation of the Daugava. However, the renovation of the complex only began in 2017, with the first stage completed a year later.

The team then returned to the Daugava after an 18-year absence in the summer of 2018 with a game against Estonia on June 2nd.[13] However, since mid-2022 home matches were once again temporarily moved to Skonto Stadium due to problems with the grass pitch and other issues. Works on replacing and upgrading the pitch began in October 2023.[14] At the time, Latvian Football Federation president Vadims Ļašenko said that Skonto would become the main home of the men's team, with Daugava serving as a backup and the venue for the women's and youth national teams.[15]

In the interwar era between 1921 and 1940, games were held in various locations such as the Army Sports Club Stadium in Riga and others.

Home venues record

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The following table provides a summary of Latvia's results at home venues since 1992.

As of 18 November 2024.
Stadium City / town Pld W D L Win % Last match hosted
Skonto Stadium Riga 70 21 15 34 030.0 2024
Daugava Stadium Riga 39 15 7 17 038.5 2022
Daugava Stadium Liepāja 8 5 0 3 062.5 2024
Olympic Stadium Ventspils 1 1 0 0 100.0 2002
ASK Stadium Riga 1 0 0 1 000.0 1994
Ozolnieki Stadium Ozolnieki 1 0 1 0 000.0 1994
Totals 102 35 23 44

Results and fixtures

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The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

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21 March 2024 Friendly Cyprus  1–1  Latvia Larnaca, Cyprus
19:00 UTC+2
  • Pittas 34'
Report Stadium: AEK Arena
Referee: Lukas Fähndrich (Switzerland)
26 March 2024 Friendly Latvia  1–1  Liechtenstein Larnaca, Cyprus
19:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (Lithuania)
8 June 2024 2024 Baltic Cup Latvia  0–2  Lithuania Liepāja, Latvia
16:00 UTC+3 Report Stadium: Daugava Stadium
Referee: Juri Frischer (Estonia)
7 September 2024 2024–25 Nations League Armenia  4–1  Latvia Yerevan, Armenia
20:00 UTC+4 Report Stadium: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium
Attendance: 12,437
Referee: Nenad Minaković (Serbia)
10 September 2024 2024–25 Nations League Latvia  1–0  Faroe Islands Riga, Latvia
19:00 UTC+3 Report Stadium: Skonto Stadium
Attendance: 5,808
Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia)
10 October 2024 2024–25 Nations League Latvia  0–3  North Macedonia Riga, Latvia
19:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Skonto Stadium
Attendance: 5,001
Referee: Jakob Sundberg (Denmark)
13 October 2024 2024–25 Nations League Faroe Islands  1–1  Latvia Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
19:45 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Tórsvøllur
Attendance: 2,017
Referee: Philip Farrugia (Malta)
14 November 2024 2024–25 Nations League North Macedonia  1–0  Latvia Skopje, North Macedonia
20:45 UTC+1 Report Stadium: Toše Proeski Arena
Attendance: 8,851
Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili (Georgia)
17 November 2024 2024–25 Nations League Latvia  1–2  Armenia Riga, Latvia
16:00 UTC+2 Report Stadium: Skonto Stadium
Attendance: 5,543
Referee: Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria)

2026

[edit]

Coaching staff

[edit]
As of 5 March 2024.
Position Name
Head coach Italy Paolo Nicolato[16]
Assistant coach Italy Massimo Paganin
Latvia Aleksandrs Cauņa
Video Analyst Italy Leonardo Carletti
Video Analyst Latvia Iļja Ščaņicins
Fitness coach Latvia Māris Smirnovs
Fitness coach Italy Vincenzo Pincolini
Goalkeeping coach Latvia Andris Vaņins
Physiotherapist Latvia Artūrs Ivuškāns
Latvia Jurijs Ksenzovs
Latvia Dmitrijs Jefremenkovs
Masseur Latvia Sergejs Avakovs
Doctor Latvia Boriss Novikovs
Manager Latvia Roberts Mežeckis
Kitman Latvia Jānis Zeltiņš
Media officer Latvia Iļja Poļakovs

Manager statistics

[edit]
As of 18 November 2024.
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Jānis Gilis 1992 1997 61 17 11 33 027.87
Revaz Dzodzuashvili 1998 1999 18 5 3 10 027.78
Gary Johnson 1999 2001 15 3 3 9 020.00
Aleksandrs Starkovs 2001 2004 43 16 8 19 037.21
Jurijs Andrejevs 2004 2007 27 5 8 14 018.52
Aleksandrs Starkovs 2007 2013 62 18 13 31 029.03
Marians Pahars 2013 2017 33 7 11 15 021.21
Aleksandrs Starkovs 2017 2018 11 1 2 8 009.09
Mixu Paatelainen 2018 2018 9 1 5 3 011.11
Slaviša Stojanovič 2019 2019 10 1 0 9 010.00
Dainis Kazakevičs 2020 2023 41 11 12 18 026.83
Paolo Nicolato 2024 10 2 3 5 020.00

Coaching history

[edit]

Players

[edit]

Current squad

[edit]

The following players were called up for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C matches against North Macedonia and Armenia on 14 and 17 November 2024.

Caps and goals as of 17 November 2024, after the match against Armenia.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
23 1GK Rihards Matrevics (1999-03-18) 18 March 1999 (age 25) 12 0 Latvia Riga FC-2
12 1GK Frenks Orols (2000-06-26) 26 June 2000 (age 24) 0 0 Latvia Daugavpils
1 1GK Krišjānis Zviedris (1997-01-21) 21 January 1997 (age 27) 0 0 Latvia Auda

4 2DF Kaspars Dubra (1990-12-20) 20 December 1990 (age 33) 66 3 Lithuania Panevėžys
11 2DF Roberts Savaļnieks (1993-02-04) 4 February 1993 (age 31) 65 2 Latvia RFS
14 2DF Andrejs Cigaņiks (1997-04-12) 12 April 1997 (age 27) 59 4 Switzerland Luzern
13 2DF Raivis Jurkovskis (1996-12-07) 7 December 1996 (age 28) 49 0 Latvia Riga
5 2DF Antonijs Černomordijs (1996-09-26) 26 September 1996 (age 28) 38 1 Latvia Riga
3 2DF Vitālijs Jagodinskis (1992-02-28) 28 February 1992 (age 32) 34 0 Cambodia Visakha
2 2DF Daniels Balodis (1998-06-10) 10 June 1998 (age 26) 15 1 Latvia Valmiera
21 2DF Maksims Toņiševs (2000-05-12) 12 May 2000 (age 24) 3 0 Latvia Valmiera
11 2DF Emīls Birka (2000-04-25) 25 April 2000 (age 24) 1 0 Latvia Auda
2DF Oskars Vientiess (2002-10-08) 8 October 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Latvia Metta

16 3MF Alvis Jaunzems (1999-06-16) 16 June 1999 (age 25) 41 0 Poland Stal Mielec
6 3MF Kristers Tobers (captain) (2000-12-13) 13 December 2000 (age 23) 37 1 Switzerland Grasshopper
22 3MF Aleksejs Saveļjevs (1999-01-30) 30 January 1999 (age 25) 25 1 Latvia Auda
8 3MF Renārs Varslavāns (2001-08-23) 23 August 2001 (age 23) 14 1 Latvia Valmiera
15 3MF Dmitrijs Zelenkovs (2000-05-15) 15 May 2000 (age 24) 12 0 Latvia RFS
17 3MF Lukass Vapne (2003-08-31) 31 August 2003 (age 21) 8 0 Latvia Valmiera
19 3MF Deniss Meļņiks (2002-09-07) 7 September 2002 (age 22) 3 0 Latvia Valmiera

10 4FW Jānis Ikaunieks (1995-02-16) 16 February 1995 (age 29) 63 12 Latvia RFS
20 4FW Roberts Uldriķis (1998-04-03) 3 April 1998 (age 26) 55 8 Greece Athens Kallithea
9 4FW Vladislavs Gutkovskis (1995-04-02) 2 April 1995 (age 29) 50 11 South Korea Daejeon Hana Citizen
7 4FW Eduards Dašķevičs (2002-07-12) 12 July 2002 (age 22) 16 0 Latvia Riga
18 4FW Dario Šits (2004-02-04) 4 February 2004 (age 20) 3 1 Netherlands Helmond Sport
4FW Raimonds Krollis (2001-10-28) 28 October 2001 (age 23) 39 4 Italy Triestina

Recent call-ups

[edit]

The following players have been called up within the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Roberts Ozols (1995-09-10) 10 September 1995 (age 29) 19 0 Uzbekistan Qizilqum v.  Faroe Islands, 10 September 2024

DF Vjačeslavs Isajevs (1993-08-23) 23 August 1993 (age 31) 7 0 Latvia FK Auda v.  Faroe Islands, 10 September 2024
DF Vitālijs Maksimenko (1990-12-08) 8 December 1990 (age 33) 54 1 Greece Aiolikos v.  Liechtenstein, 26 March 2024
DF Mārcis Ošs (1991-07-25) 25 July 1991 (age 33) 27 1 Latvia RFS v.  Liechtenstein, 26 March 2024
DF Vladislavs Sorokins (1997-05-10) 10 May 1997 (age 27) 10 0 Kazakhstan Kyzylzhar v.  Liechtenstein, 26 March 2024

FW Marko Regža (1999-01-20) 20 January 1999 (age 25) 10 0 Latvia Riga v.  Faroe Islands, 10 September 2024

RET Retired from national team
INJ Injured player
WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue

Player records

[edit]
As of 21 November 2023.[17]
Players in bold are still active with Latvia.

Most appearances

[edit]
Vitālijs Astafjevs is Latvia's most capped player with 167 appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Period
1 Vitālijs Astafjevs 167 16 1992–2010
2 Andrejs Rubins 117 9 1998–2011
3 Juris Laizāns 113 15 1998–2013
4 Imants Bleidelis 106 10 1995–2007
5 Mihails Zemļinskis 105 12 1992–2005
6 Māris Verpakovskis 104 29 1999–2014
7 Igors Stepanovs 100 4 1995–2011
Andris Vaņins 100 0 2000–2019
9 Aleksandrs Koliņko 94 0 1997–2015
10 Kaspars Gorkšs 89 5 2005–2017

Top goalscorers

[edit]
Māris Verpakovskis is Latvia's top scorer with 29 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Average Period
1. Māris Verpakovskis 29 104 0.28 1999–2014
2. Ēriks Pētersons 24 63 0.38 1929–1939
3. Vitālijs Astafjevs 16 167 0.1 1992–2010
4. Marians Pahars 15 75 0.2 1996–2007
Juris Laizāns 15 113 0.13 1998–2013
6. Alberts Šeibelis 14 54 0.26 1925–1939
7. Iļja Vestermans 13 23 0.57 1935–1938
Valērijs Šabala 13 53 0.25 2013–2019
9. Aleksandrs Cauņa 12 45 0.27 2007–2015
Jānis Ikaunieks 12 65 0.18 2014–present
Mihails Zemļinskis 12 105 0.11 1992–2005

Hat-tricks

[edit]
Player Competition Against Home/Away Result Date
Voldemārs Žins International Friendly Lithuania Lithuania Home 6–3 27 July 1927
Voldemārs Plade 1929 Baltic Cup Lithuania Lithuania Home 3–1 14 August 1929
Ēriks Pētersons 1930 Baltic Cup Lithuania Lithuania Away 3–3 17 August 1930
Ēriks Pētersons 4 International Friendly Lithuania Lithuania Home 5–2 30 June 1931
Ēriks Pētersons International Friendly Lithuania Lithuania Home 6–2 12 June 1933
Hugo Vītols International Friendly Lithuania Lithuania Home 6–1 30 May 1935
Fricis Kaņeps 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification Lithuania Lithuania Home 4–2 29 July 1937
  • 4 Player scored 4 goals

Clean sheets

[edit]
Rank Player Games
1 Andris Vaņins 25
2 Aleksandrs Koliņko 21
3 Oļegs Karavajevs 13
4 Raimonds Laizāns 12
5 Arvīds Jurgens 5
Jānis Bebris 5
Pāvels Šteinbors 5
8 Jānis Kļaviņš 4
Roberts Ozols 4
10 Andrejs Piedels 2

Competitive record

[edit]

FIFA World Cup

[edit]
FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Did not enter Declined invitation
Italy 1934 Did not enter
France 1938 Did not qualify 3 2 0 1 10 5
Brazil 1950 Part of the  Soviet Union Part of the  Soviet Union
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974
Argentina 1978
Spain 1982
Mexico 1986
Italy 1990
United States 1994 Did not qualify 12 0 5 7 4 21
France 1998 10 3 1 6 10 14
South Korea Japan 2002 8 1 1 6 5 16
Germany 2006 12 4 3 5 18 21
South Africa 2010 10 5 2 3 18 15
Brazil 2014 10 2 2 6 10 20
Russia 2018 10 2 1 7 7 18
Qatar 2022 10 2 3 5 11 14
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/11 85 21 18 46 93 144

UEFA European Championship

[edit]
UEFA European Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
France 1960 Part of the  Soviet Union Part of the  Soviet Union
Spain 1964
Italy 1968
Belgium 1972
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1976
Italy 1980
France 1984
West Germany 1988
Sweden 1992
England 1996 Did not qualify 10 4 0 6 11 20
Belgium Netherlands 2000 10 3 4 3 13 12
Portugal 2004 Group stage 14th 3 0 1 2 1 5 Squad 10 6 2 2 13 8
Austria Switzerland 2008 Did not qualify 12 4 0 8 15 17
Poland Ukraine 2012 10 3 2 5 9 12
France 2016 10 0 5 5 6 19
Europe 2020 10 1 0 9 3 28
Germany 2024 8 1 0 7 5 19
United Kingdom Republic of Ireland 2028 To be determined To be determined
Italy Turkey 2032
Total Group stage 1/8 3 0 1 2 1 5 80 22 13 45 75 135

UEFA Nations League

[edit]
UEFA Nations League record
Season Division Group Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
2018–19 D 1 6 0 4 2 2 6 Same position 51st
2020–21 D 1 6 1 4 1 8 4 Same position 53rd
2022–23 D 1 6 4 1 1 12 5 Rise 50th
2024–25 C 4 In progress
Total 18 5 9 4 22 15 50th

Baltic Cup

[edit]
Baltic Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
1928 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 4 0
1929 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 1 0 5 3
1930 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 1 0 6 5
1931 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 2 3
1932 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 5 1
1933 Abandoned 1st 2 1 1 0 3 2
1935 Runners-up 2nd 2 0 2 0 3 3
1936 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 4 2
1937 Champions 1st 2 1 1 0 6 2
1938 Runners-up 2nd 2 0 2 0 2 2
1991 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 1 0 3 1
1992 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 4 4
1993 Champions 1st 2 1 1 0 2 0
1994 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 2 1
1995 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 4 0
1996 Third place 3rd 2 0 1 1 2 3
1997 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 2 2
1998 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 2 1
2001 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 7 2
2003 Champions 1st 2 1 1 0 2 1
2005 Runners-up 2nd 1 0 0 1 0 2
2008 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 3 1
2010 Runners-up 2nd 2 0 2 0 0 0
2012 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 6 1
2014 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 1 0
2016 Champions 1st 2 1 1 0 2 1
2018 Champions 1st 2 1 1 0 2 1
2020 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 4 3
2022 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 2 2
2024 Third place 3rd 2 1 0 1 1 2
Total 13 Titles 30/30 59 33 16 10 91 51

Olympic Games

[edit]
Olympic Games record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad
France 1924 Second round 15th 1 0 0 1 0 7 Squad
Total Second round 1/1 1 0 0 1 0 7

Head-to-head record

[edit]

As of 17 November 2024 after match against  Armenia.[18]

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Honours

[edit]

Regional

[edit]

Friendly

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Krīgers, Renārs. "Jauna identitāte". www.lff.lv. LFF. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  3. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Latvian national team history". LFF.lv. LFF. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Спартакиада народов СССР". Wikiwand.com. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Vilks - Latvijas futbola izlases jaunā identitāte" [Wolf - the new identity of the Latvian national football team]. TVNET (in Latvian). 18 July 2018. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  7. ^ "All Media Baltics pārraidīs visas Latvijas izlases spēles". LFF.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  8. ^ Eliņš, Rolands (20 July 2023). "Futbola izlases, NHL un F1 raidtiesību īpašniece "Viaplay" atstās Baltijas valstu tirgu". Sportacentrs.com. Sportacentrs. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Straumēšanas pakalpojumu sniedzējs 'Viaplay' aiziet no Baltijas tirgus". Delfi.lv. LETA. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  10. ^ ""Viaplay" un TV3 grupas noslēdz vienošanos Baltijas valstīs". LFF.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  11. ^ ""Futbols atgriežas mājās!" – Latvijas Televīzija iegūst tiesības pārraidīt Latvijas nacionālās futbola izlases spēles UEFA rīkotajās sacensībās". LTV. 4 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Latvijas izlases spēles atgriežas Latvijas Televīzijā". LFF.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Daugava Stadium in Riga to open at end-May after reconstruction". The Baltic Course | Baltic States news & analytics. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  14. ^ Kļavenieks, Mārtiņš (28 September 2023). "'Daugava' Stadium in Rīga to get major upgrades". eng.lsm.lv. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  15. ^ Kļavenieks, Mārtiņš (28 September 2023). "«Daugavas» stadions pārtop: vieglatlēti gaida manēžu; drīz mainīs futbola zālienu un skrejceliņu". LSM.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Oficiāli: Par Latvijas izlases nākamo treneri kļūst itālis Nikolato". 5 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Latvia". National Football Teams.
  18. ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Latvia". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
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