Nickname(s) | Sarkanbaltsarkanie (The red-white-reds) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Latvian Football Federation | ||
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
Head coach | ![]() | ||
Captain | Jānis Beks | ||
Most caps | Endijs Šlampe, Reinis Flaksis (31) | ||
Top scorer | Edgars Gauračs (10) | ||
| |||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Vilnius, Lithuania; 28 October 1992) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Carnikava, Latvia; 28 April 1994) ![]() ![]() (Riga, Latvia; 6 June 2009) ![]() ![]() (Riga, Latvia; 9 October 2009) ![]() ![]() (Saint Petersburg, Russia; 26 January 2013) ![]() ![]() (Jūrmala, Latvia; 11 June 2013) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Athens, Greece; 9 June 1999) ![]() ![]() (Jelgava, Latvia; 11 October 2011) ![]() ![]() (Lugano, Switzerland; 8 September 2014) |
The Latvia national under-21 football team represents the under-21s of Latvia and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body of football in Latvia. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years. The team is coached by Aleksandrs Basovs and is currently captained by defender Daniels Balodis.
Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, under-21 football teams in Europe were formed, while Latvian team was formed only in 1991, after regaining independence from USSR. The team is exclusively for football players that are aged 21 or under at the start of the two-year campaign of the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship meaning a player can represent the national team until the age of 23. Many U-21 players later represent the senior side.
Latvia U-21 have never yet qualified for the European U-21 championships, but has produced many players, who have become regular internationals for the senior side. Oskars Kļava, Deniss Ivanovs, Edgars Gauračs and Artjoms Rudņevs have all played for the U-21 side and are now first eleven players for Latvia internationally.
Latvia U-21 team plays its home matches at the Skonto stadions, which is also the home stadium of Latvia senior side. Before the opening of the Skonto stadions the team played its home matches in many different venues all around the country, including Ozolnieki, Daugavpils and Liepāja.
History
[edit]As a team, Latvia U-21 was formed in 1992, after regaining independence from the USSR. The team played its first match in Vilnius, Lithuania on October 28, 1992 that ended in a 0-0 draw. The team firstly participated in the European Championship qualification in 1994, playing the first match in Riga against Ireland U-21 on September 6, that ended in a 1-1 draw.[1] Since 2001 the team also participates in the Baltic Cup, winning in 2008. Since 1992 Latvia have already played more than 100 matches.
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
[edit]2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 3 | +13 | 15 | Final tournament | — | 15 Oct '24 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5 Sep '24 | |
2 | ![]() |
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 13 | Play-offs | 2–2 | — | 11 Oct '24 | 10 Sep '24 | 3–2 | 3–0 | |
3 | ![]() |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 6 | +15 | 12 | 10 Sep '24 | 3–2 | — | 7–0 | 15 Oct '24 | 4–0 | ||
4 | ![]() |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 7[a] | 0–0 | 1–2 | 6 Sep '24 | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | ||
5 | ![]() |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 7[a] | 0–2 | 6 Sep '24 | 2–0 | 11 Oct '24 | — | 5–0 | ||
6 | ![]() |
7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 35 | −35 | 0 | 0–7 | 0–7 | 0–7 | 15 Oct '24 | 10 Sep '24 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated
Notes:
Results and fixtures
[edit]Win Draw Loss
2 June 2022 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification | Latvia ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Skonto Stadium, Riga |
17:30 |
|
Report | Attendance: 300 Referee: Bulat Sariyev (Kazakhstan) |
7 June 2022 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification | Latvia ![]() | 0-2 | ![]() | Skonto Stadium |
19:00 | Report | András Németh, András Németh |
27 September 2022 Friendly | Poland ![]() | 1-1 | ![]() | Suwalki |
18:30 | Bartlomiej Kludka | Report | Kristiāns Kaušelis | Referee: Paweł Malec |
18 November 2022 Under-21 Baltic Cup | Latvia ![]() | 1-0 | ![]() | Jānis Daliņš Stadium |
13:00 | Lūkass Vapne | Report | Attendance: 100 Referee: Donatas Šimenas (LTU) |
20 November 2022 Under-21 Baltic Cup | Lithuania ![]() | 1-2 | ![]() | LFF Kauno treniruočių centro stadionas, Kaunas |
15:00 | Matas Dedura | Report | Deniss Meļņiks, Deniss Meļņiks | Referee: Ilie Laurentiu (SMR) |
23 March 2023 Friendly | North Macedonia ![]() | 0-3 | ![]() | Bellis Deluxe, Antalia |
16:00 | Report | Artjoms Puzirevskis, Kristofers Rēķis, Kristofers Rēķis |
26 March 2023 Friendly | Georgia ![]() | 1-0 | ![]() | Bellis Deluxe, Antalia |
17:30 | Giorgi Guliashvili | Report |
20 June 2023 2025 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification | Latvia ![]() | 2-0 | ![]() | Sloka Stadium, Jūrmala |
18:00 | Report | Dario Šits, Bruno Melnis | Attendance: 300 Referee: Helgi Mikael Jónasson (ISL) |
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]- The following players were called up for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches.[2]
- Match dates: 8 and 12 September 2023
- Opposition:
Italy and
Norway
- Caps and goals correct as of: 1 September 2023, after the match against
San Marino
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Jānis Beks | 1 November 2002 | 5 | 0 | ![]() | |
GK | Sergejs Vilkovs | 3 September 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | |
GK | Klāvs Bethers | 24 December 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Aleksejs Kudeļkins | 8 May 2002 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Andris Deklavs | 28 August 2002 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Rūdolfs Reingolcs | 1 July 2002 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Jegors Novikovs | 9 February 2003 | 4 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Ralfs Maslovs | 2 August 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Oļģerts Raščevskis | 18 February 2003 | 6 | 0 | ![]() | |
DF | Niks Sliede | 8 March 2004 | 3 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Roberts Meļķis | 10 November 2002 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Oskars Vientiess | 8 October 2002 | 5 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Deniss Meļņiks | 7 September 2002 | 10 | 2 | ![]() | |
MF | Kaspars Anmanis | 22 January 2002 | 4 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Danila Patijčuks | 22 March 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Lūkass Vapne | 31 August 2003 | 10 | 0 | ![]() | |
MF | Kristiāns Kaušelis | 14 March 2003 | 6 | 1 | ![]() | |
MF | Bruno Melnis | 18 March 2002 | 1 | 1 | ![]() | |
MF | Gļebs Žaleiko | 18 March 2002 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | Artjoms Puzirevskis | 11 January 2003 | 6 | 1 | ![]() | |
FW | Valērijs Lizunovs | 11 January 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() | |
FW | Dario Šits | 11 January 2003 | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
Recent call-ups
[edit]The following players have been capped in the past 12 months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Ņikita Šaraņins | 4 January 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Rinalds Aizups | 31 May 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Rūdolfs Zeņģis | 21 March 2002 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Markuss Kruglaužs | 28 January 2002 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Kārlis Vilnis | 3 July 2003 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Iļja Semjonovs | 18 March 2002 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Eduards Dašķevičs | 12 July 2002 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Maksims Fjodorovs | 24 September 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Kristofers Rēķis | 21 January 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Mareks Mikšto | 20 May 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Jevgenijs Miņins | 17 March 2002 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Deņiss Rogovs | 11 February 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Gļebs Žaleiko | 27 June 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Artūrs Ostapenko | 28 August 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Valerijs Lizunovs | 24 February 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Rolands Bočs | 3 July 2003 | 5 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
Staff
[edit]Head coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Goalkeeping coach | ![]() |
Physiotherapist | ![]() |
Doctor | ![]() |
Manager | ![]() |
Coaching history
[edit]Aleksandrs Starkovs (1994)
Jurijs Andrejevs (1995)
Jānis Dreimanis (1996–1998)
Jurijs Andrejevs (1998–2001)
Jurijs Popkovs (2001–2003)
Jurijs Ševļakovs (2004–2005)
Genādijs Šitiks (2006–2009)
Mihails Zemļinskis (2009–2011)
Anton Joore (2012–2013)
Marians Pahars (2013)
Dainis Kazakevičs (2013–2019)
Aleksandrs Basovs (2020-)
Most capped players
[edit]Only official matches against U-21 national teams, not including against clubs or any other matches.
# | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Endijs Šlampe | 2014–2016 | 31 | 0 |
Reinis Flaksis | 2013–2016 | 31 | 1 | |
3. | Dmitrijs Klimaševičs | 2014–2016 | 30 | 4 |
4. | Andrejs Kiriļins | 2014–2016 | 29 | 0 |
Vladislavs Gutkovskis | 2014–2016 | 29 | 6 | |
Antonijs Černomordijs | 20??–2018 | 29 | 1 | |
7. | Jevgēņijs Kazačoks | 20??–2016 | 27 | 5 |
Eduards Tīdenbergs | 20??–2016 | 27 | 2 | |
9. | Edgars Vardanjans | 2011–2014 | 25 | 1 |
Kaspars Svārups | 20??–2016 | 25 | 3 |
- Players in bold are still available to play for the U-21 National team.
Best goalscorers
[edit]# | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Edgars Gauračs | 2009–2009 | 9 | 10 |
2. | Deniss Rakels | 2011–2013 | 13 | 6 |
Vladislavs Gutkovskis | 2014–2016 | 29 | 6 | |
4. | Jevgēņijs Kazačoks | 2013–2016 | 27 | 5 |
Marko Regža | 2018- | 14 | 5 | |
6. | Artjoms Rudņevs | 2009–2009 | 10 | 4 |
Dmitrijs Klimaševičs | 2014–2016 | 30 | 4 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Games of the XXVI. Olympiad - Football Qualifying Tournament".
- ^ Suveizda, Agris. "Latvijas U21 izlase mājas spēlei pret Itāliju izsauc divus C sērijas futbolistus". Sportacentrs.com. Sportacentrs. Retrieved 1 September 2023.