Latvia

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 18 October 1924, against Estonia, winning 2–0.

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 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.^[]

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 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.

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 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 football 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.

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.

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.

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.

In the UEFA 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.

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.

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.

Latvia’s campaign for Euro 2008 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From September 2010 to October 2011, Latvia competed in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying 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 a Aleksandrs Cauņa's 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The UEFA 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. 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.

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.

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.

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 2018–19 UEFA Nations League was considered disappointing by many. 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 as head coach.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.