Latvia national football team 711598 225281683 2008-07-12T21:33:52Z 72.90.75.127 /* Most recent squad */ {{Infobox National football team | Name = Latvia | Badge = Latvia_football_federation.gif | FIFA Trigramme = LVA | FIFA Rank = 66 |1st ranking date = August 1993 | FIFA max = 51 | FIFA max date = December 2003| FIFA min = 111 | FIFA min date = July 2007| Elo Rank = 82 | Nickname = | Association = [[Latvian Football Federation]] | Confederation = [[UEFA]] ([[Europe]]) | Coach = {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Aleksandrs Starkovs]], [[2007]]- | Captain = [[Vitālijs Astafjevs]] | Most caps = [[Vitālijs Astafjevs]] (144) | Top scorer = [[Māris Verpakovskis]] (21) | Home Stadium = [[Skonto stadions]] | pattern_la1=_whitesmalllower|pattern_b1=_adidasliberosmallwhite|pattern_ra1=_whitesmalllower| leftarm1=98233f|body1=98233f|rightarm1=98233f|shorts1=98233f|socks1=98233f| pattern_la2=_whiteupper|pattern_b2=_adidasliberowhite|pattern_ra2=_whiteupper| leftarm2=98233f|body2=98233f|rightarm2=98233f|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF| First game = {{Flagicon|Latvia}} Latvia 1 - 1 {{fb-rt|Estonia}}<br/>([[Riga]], [[Latvia]]; [[24 September]], [[1922]]) | Largest win = {{Flagicon|Latvia}} Latvia 8 - 1 {{fb-rt|Estonia}}<br />([[Tallinn]], [[Estonia]]; [[18 August]], [[1942]]) | Largest loss = {{fb|Sweden}} 12 - 0 Latvia {{Flagicon|Latvia}}<br/>([[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]]; [[29 May]], [[1927]]) | World cup apps = | World cup first = | World cup best = | Regional name = [[European Football Championship|European Championship]] | Regional cup apps = 1 | Regional cup first = [[2004 European Football Championship|2004]] | Regional cup best = Round 1, [[2004 European Football Championship|2004]] }} The '''Latvian national football team''' (''Izlase'' in [[Latvian language|Latvian]]) is controlled by the [[Latvian Football Federation]], the governing body for football in [[Latvia]] and represents the country in international [[soccer|football]] competitions, such as [[Football World Cup|World Cup]] and the [[European Football Championship|European Championships]]. ==History== Latvia played their first match in [[1922]], a game against [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]]; the result was a 1-1 draw. Latvia are the only [[Baltic]] team that has qualified for a European Championship and have won the [[Baltic Cup]] 19 times. Latvia in it's pre-war period from 1922 to 1940 played 99 official games. Main article: [[1938_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification#Group_8]] In 1937, the Latvian team participated in the first qualification tournament for the [[FIFA World Cup 1938]]. Latvia was seeded in Group 8 with Austria and Lithuania. Latvia won Lithuania 4-2 in Rīga (Goals: [[Fricis Kaņeps]] 9', 52', 83'; [[Iļja Vestermans]] 50' - Gudelis 79', Pavilionis 90') and than later 5-1 in Kaunas (Kaņeps 4', 45' (penalty); [[Vaclavs Borduško]] 11', 30'; Vestermans 67' - Pavilionis 72'), but lost 1-2 in the decisive match with Austria. Goals by Iļja Vestermans at the 6th minute for Latvia, and by Binder at 33' and Jerusalem at 15'. In April 1938 the Austrian [[Anschluss]] relegated the Austrian team, but the team of Latvia was not invited by FIFA as the group's runner-up. In [[1940]], Latvia was annexed by the [[Soviet Union]]; the country regained its independence in [[1991]] and played their first match as a new nation against [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]] on [[November 16]] of that year in the Baltic Cup, and their first [[FIFA]]-recognized match against [[Romania national football team|Romania]] on [[April 8]], [[1992]], a 0-2 loss at [[Bucharest]]. Latvia were surprise qualifiers for the [[2004 European Football Championship]]. After coming second in their [[Euro 2004 qualifying|qualifying group]] (ahead of [[Poland national football team|Poland]] they defeated 2002 World Cup semi-finalists [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]] in a playoff to reach the final tournament. They were drawn into group D with [[Germany national football team|Germany]], [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]], and the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]. On June 15, 2004, Latvia played Czech Republic and took half-time lead with a goal from [[Māris Verpakovskis]]. The Czechs would later come back to win the game 2-1. Four days later Latvia earned a respectable draw 0-0 against Germany to earn their first point in a major tournament. Latvia later lost to the Netherlands 3-0 and were eliminated with one point from their draw and two losses. In the qualifying for [[2006 FIFA World Cup|World Cup 2006]], Latvia were in group 3 with Portugal, Slovakia, Russia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg. Latvia were considered as a small threat for the playoff spot. However, they failed to show any surprises as they did in Euro 2004 and failed to qualify for World Cup 2006 finishing fifth with 15 points from four wins, three draws and five losses. [[Vitālijs Astafjevs]] has played for Latvia more times than anyone else, with 144 caps currently. [[Māris Verpakovskis]] is the nation's top goal scorer with 23, while [[Marians Pahars]] has 15. ==World Cup record== *[[Football World Cup 1930|1930]] to [[Football World Cup 1934|1934]] - ''Did not enter'' *[[Football World Cup 1938|1938]] - ''Did not qualify'' *[[Football World Cup 1950|1950]] to [[Football World Cup 1990|1990]] - ''Did not enter, was part of [[USSR national football team|USSR]]'' *[[Football World Cup 1994|1994]] to [[Football World Cup 2006|2006]] - ''Did not qualify'' ==European Championship record== *[[1960 European Football Championship|1960]] to [[1992 European Football Championship|1992]] - ''Did not enter, was part of [[USSR national football team|USSR]]'' *[[1996 European Football Championship|1996]] - ''Did not qualify'' *[[2000 European Football Championship|2000]] - ''Did not qualify'' *[[2004 European Football Championship|2004]] - Round 1 *[[2008 European Football Championship|2008]] - ''Did not qualify'' ==Results and fixtures== ===Forthcoming fixtures=== ===Recent results=== This is a list of match results from the past year. Goal scorers in brackets. *'''[[2008 European Football Championship (qualifying)|Euro 2008 Qualifying]]''' Group F: **Latvia 4-1 [[Liechtenstein national football team|Liechtenstein]], [[17 November]] [[2007]] at [[Latvia]] **[[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] 3-1 Latvia, [[17 October]] at [[Denmark]] **[[Iceland national football team|Iceland]] 2-4 Latvia, [[13 October]] at [[Iceland]] **[[Spain national football team|Spain]] 2-0 Latvia, [[12 September]] at [[Spain]] **Latvia 1-0 [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]], [[8 September]] at [[Latvia]] **Latvia 0-2 [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]], [[6 June]] at [[Latvia]] **Latvia 0-2 [[Spain national football team|Spain]], [[2 June]] at [[Latvia]] **[[Liechtenstein national football team|Liechtenstein]] 1-0 Latvia, [[28 March]] at [[Vaduz]], [[Liechtenstein]] (Liechtenstein: [[Mario Frick (footballer)|Frick]] 17) *Cyprus International Tournament 2007: ** Latvia 0-2 [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]], [[7 February]] at [[Limassol]], [[Cyprus]] (Hungary: [[Tamás Priskin|Priskin]] 31, 52) ** [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] 2-0 Latvia, [[6 February]] at [[Larnaca]], [[Cyprus]] (Bulgaria: [[Pāvels Surņins|Surņins]] 15 [[Own goal|o.g.]], [[Hristo Yovov|Yovov]] 30) * '''[[2008 European Football Championship (qualifying)|Euro 2008 Qualifying]]''' Group F: **[[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] 1-0 Latvia, [[11 October]] at [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]] (Northern Ireland: [[David Healy (footballer)|Healy]] 35) **Latvia 4-0 [[Iceland national football team|Iceland]], [[7 October]] at [[Rīga]], [[Latvia]] (Latvia: [[Ģirts Karlsons|Karlsons]] 17, [[Māris Verpakovskis|Verpakovskis]] 18, 28, [[Aleksejs Višņakovs|Višņakovs]] 54) * Friendly: **Latvia 1-2 [[Moldova national football team|Moldova]], [[22 August]] at [[Latvia]] **[[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]] 0-0 Latvia, [[6 September]] at [[Hesperange]], [[Luxembourg]] * '''[[2008 European Football Championship (qualifying)|Euro 2008 Qualifying]]''' Group F: **Latvia 0-1 [[Sweden national football team|Sweden]], [[2 September]] at [[Rīga]], [[Latvia]] (Sweden: [[Kim Källström|Källström]] 38) * Friendly: **[[Russia national football team|Russia]] 1-0 Latvia, [[16 August]] at [[Moscow]], [[Russia]] (Russia: [[Vasili Berezutskiy|V. Berezutskiy]] 51) **[[USA national football team|USA]] 1-0 Latvia, [[28 May]] at [[Hartford]], [[USA]] ==Famous players== Before 1940: * [[Ēriks Pētersons]] * [[Jānis Lidmanis]] * [[Alberts Šeibelis]] After 1991: * [[Aleksandrs Koļiņko]] * [[Igors Stepanovs]] * [[Vitālijs Astafjevs]] * [[Māris Verpakovskis]] * [[Andrejs Rubins]] * [[Marians Pahars]] * [[Juris Laizāns]] ==Top Latvia goalscorers== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !Player !Latvia career !Goals (Caps) |- |align=left| [[Māris Verpakovskis]] |1999-present |23 (70) |- |align=left| [[Ēriks Pētersons]] |1929-1939 |21 (63) |- |align=left| [[Marians Pahars]] |1996-2007 |15 (69) |- |align=left| [[Juris Laizāns]] |1998-present |15 (92) |- |align=left| [[Alberts Šeibelis]] |1925-1939 |14 (54) |- |align=left| [[Iļja Vestermans]] |1935-1938 |13 (23) |- |align=left| [[Mihails Zemļinskis]] |1992-2005 |12 (105) |- |align=left| [[Vitālijs Astafjevs]] |1992-present |12 (144) |- |align=left| [[Arnolds Tauriņš]] |1925-1935 |10 (39) |} == Latvia coaches == {| class="wikitable" |- !Coach !Latvia career |- |{{flagicon|Latvia}}[[Jānis Gilis]] |align=center|[[1992]]-[[1997]] |- |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}}[[Revaz Dzodzuashvili]] |align=center|[[1998]]-[[1999]] |- |{{flagicon|England}}[[Gary Johnson (footballer)|Gary Johnson]] |align=center|[[1999]]-[[2001]] |- |{{flagicon|Latvia}}[[Aleksandrs Starkovs]] |align=center|[[2001]]-[[2004]] |- |{{flagicon|Latvia}}[[Jurijs Andrejevs]] |align=center|[[2004]]-[[2007]] |- |{{flagicon|Latvia}}[[Aleksandrs Starkovs]] |align=center|[[2007]]- |} == Latvia Squad == ==== Most recent squad ==== Line up for [[Baltic Cup 2008]] as of [[June 1]], [[2008]]. {| class="wikitable" |- !Name !DOB !Club !Caps (goals) !Debut |- !colspan=5|Goalkeepers |- | [[Aleksandrs Koļinko]] || [[June 18]] [[1975]]|| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[FC Rubin Kazan]] || 80 (0) || v [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]], [[9 July]] [[1997]] |- | [[Andris Vaņins]] || [[April 30]] [[1980]]|| {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Ventspils]] || 14 (0) || v [[Slovakia national football team|Slovakia]], [[4 February]] [[2000]] |- !colspan=5|Defenders |- | [[Dzintars Zirnis]] || [[April 25]] [[1977]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FHK Liepājas Metalurgs|Liepājas Metalurgs]] || 56 (0) || v [[Azerbaijan national football team|Azerbaijan]], [[19 August]] [[1997]] |- | [[Oskars Kļava]] || [[August 8]] [[1983]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FHK Liepājas Metalurgs|Liepājas Metalurgs]] || 23 (1) || v [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]], [[24 December]] [[2005]] |- | [[Deniss Ivanovs]] || [[January 11]] [[1984]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FHK Liepājas Metalurgs|Liepājas Metalurgs]] || 19 (1) || v [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]], [[24 December]] [[2005]] |- | [[Kaspars Gorkšs]] || [[November 6]] [[1981]] || {{flagicon|England}} [[Blackpool F.C.]] || 17 (1) || v [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]], [[24 December]] [[2005]] |- | [[Deniss Kačanovs]] || [[November 27]] [[1979]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Ventspils]] || 12 (0) || |- | [[Roberts Mežeckis]] || [[January 29]] [[1981]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Riga]] || 0 (0) || |- | [[Igors Savčenkovs]] || [[November 3]] [[1982]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Ventspils]] || 0 (0) || |- !colspan=5|Midfielders |- | [[Vitālijs Astafjevs]] || [[April 3]] [[1971]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Skonto FC]] || 144 (14) || v [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]], [[26 August]] [[1992]] |- | [[Andrejs Rubins]] || [[November 26]] [[1978]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FHK Liepājas Metalurgs]] || 93 (8) || |- | [[Vladimirs Koļesničenko]] || [[May 4]] [[1980]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Ventspils]] || 32 (4) || |- | [[Aleksejs Višņakovs]] || [[February 3]] [[1984]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Skonto FC]] || 29 (4) || v [[Oman national football team|Oman]], [[1 December]] [[2004]] |- | [[Genādijs Soloņicins]] || [[January 3]] [[1980]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FHK Liepājas Metalurgs]] || 26 (1) || |- | [[Aleksandrs Cauņa]] || [[January 19]] [[1988]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Skonto FC]] || 6 (0) || |- | [[Jurijs Žigajevs]] || [[November 14]] [[1985]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Ventspils]] || 5 (0) || |- | [[Maksims Rafaļskis]] || [[May 14]] [[1984]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Riga]] || 0 (0) || |- !colspan=5|Strikers |- | [[Vits Rimkus]] || [[June 21]] [[1973]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Ventspils]] || 73 (11) || |- | [[Ģirts Karlsons]] || [[June 7]] [[1981]] || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[De Graafschap]] || 27 (6) || v [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]], [[20 December]] [[2003]] |- | [[Andrejs Perepļotkins]] || [[December 27]] [[1984]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Skonto FC]] || 5 (1) || |} ===Recent call-up=== The following players have been called-up for Latvia squad within last 12 month. {| class="wikitable" |- !Name !DOB !Club !Caps (goals) !Debut |- !colspan=5|Goalkeepers |- | [[Deniss Romanovs]] || [[February 6]] [[1978]]|| {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Dinamo Bucharest]] || 2 (0) || v [[Bahrein national football team|Bahrein]], [[21 March]] [[2004]] |- | [[Pāvels Doroševs]] || [[October 9]] [[1980]]|| {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Skonto FC]] || 0 (0) || |- | [[Andrejs Piedels]] || [[September 17]] [[1970]]|| {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Riga]] || 14 (0) || v [[Lithuania national football team|Lithuania]], [[21 April]] [[1998]] |- !colspan=5|Defenders |- | [[Igors Stepanovs]] || [[January 21]] [[1976]] || {{flagicon|Russia}} [[FC Shinnik Yaroslavl]] || 96 (4) || v [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]], [[26 March]] [[1995]] |- | [[Artūrs Zakreševskis]] || [[August 7]] [[1971]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Jūrmala]] || 55 (1) || v [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]], [[19 May]] [[1995]] |- | [[Igors Korabļovs]] || [[November 23]] [[1974]]|| {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Riga]] || 21 (0) || v [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]], [[11 October]] [[1998]] |- | [[Vladimirs Žavoronkovs]] || [[November 25]] [[1976]]|| {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Riga]] || 10 (0) || |- | [[Antons Jemeļins]] || [[February 19]] [[1984]]|| {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FHK Liepājas Metalurgs]] || 1 (0) || |- | [[Pāvels Surņins]] || [[August 4]] [[1985]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FHK Liepājas Metalurgs|Liepājas Metalurgs]] || 2 (0) || |- !colspan=5|Midfielders |- | [[Imants Bleidelis]] || [[August 16]] [[1975]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FHK Liepājas Metalurgs]] || 106 (10) || v [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]], [[19 May]] [[1995]] |- | [[Viktors Morozs]] || [[July 30]] [[1980]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Skonto FC]] || 21 (0) || v [[Azerbaijan national football team|Azerbaijan]], [[6 July]] [[2002]] |- | [[Igors Semjonovs]] || [[July 3]] [[1985]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Skonto FC]] || 11 (0) || v [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]], [[7 July]] [[2003]] |- | [[Jevgēņijs Kosmačovs]] || [[February 18]] [[1988]]|| {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[FK Ventspils]] || 14 (0) || |- !colspan=5|Strikers |- | [[Māris Verpakovskis]] || [[October 15]] [[1979]] || {{flagicon|Croatia}} [[HNK Hajduk Split]] || 70 (23) || v [[Greece national football team|Greece]], [[9 September]] [[1999]] |- | [[Kristaps Blanks]] || [[January 30]] [[1986]] || {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Skonto FC]] || 18 (0) || v [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]], [[5 July]] [[2003]] |} ===Previous squads=== {{update}} See [[2004 European Football Championship (team squads)#Latvia|the EURO 2004 squad]]. ==[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]== {{2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 2 | expanded = yes | fixtures = yes | tiebreakers = <!-- "yes", to display the tiebreaking notes --> }} ==External links== * [http://www.lff.lv Official site of national football federation] * [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesl/let-intres.html RSSSF archive of Latvia national team results] * [http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/let-recintlp.html RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers] * [http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/EURO/Teams/Team=56558/index.html UEFA.com] {{fb start}} {{Football in Latvia}} {{International 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