Latvia national under-21 football team

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.

Latvia Under-21
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Sarkanbaltsarkanie (The red-white-reds)
AssociationLatvian Football Federation
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachLatvia Aleksandrs Basovs
CaptainDaniels Balodis
Most capsEndijs Šlampe, Reinis Flaksis (31)
Top scorerEdgars Gauračs (10)
First colours
Second colours
First international
Latvia Latvia 0 - 0 Lithuania Lithuania
(Vilnius, Lithuania; 28 October 1992)
Biggest win
Latvia Latvia 4 - 0 Estonia Estonia
(Carnikava, Latvia; 28 April 1994)
Latvia Latvia 4 - 0 Andorra Andorra
(Riga, Latvia; 6 June 2009)
Latvia Latvia 5 - 1 Romania Romania
(Riga, Latvia; 9 October 2009)
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan 0 - 4 Latvia Latvia
(Saint Petersburg, Russia; 26 January 2013)
Latvia Latvia 4 - 0 Liechtenstein Liechtenstein
(Jūrmala, Latvia; 11 June 2013)
Biggest defeat
Latvia Latvia 0 - 6 Greece Greece
(Athens, Greece; 9 June 1999)
Latvia Latvia 0 - 6 Slovakia Slovakia
(Jelgava, Latvia; 11 October 2011)
Latvia Latvia 1 - 7 Switzerland Switzerland
(Lugano, Switzerland; 8 September 2014)

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

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

2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
Main article: 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Germany 10 9 0 1 32 9 +23 27 Final tournament — 3–2 0–4 4–0 4–0 4–0
2  Israel 10 6 1 3 19 10 +9 19 Play-offs 0–1 — 2–2 3–0 2–1 2–0
3  Poland 10 5 3 2 26 9 +17 18 1–2 1–2 — 1–1 5–0 3–0
4  Hungary 10 4 2 4 16 17 −1 14 1–5 1–2 2–2 — 1–0 4–0
5  Latvia 10 2 1 7 5 19 −14 7 1–3 1–0 0–2 0–2 — 2–0
6  San Marino 10 0 1 9 0 34 −34 1 0–6 0–4 0–5 0–4 0–0 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

3 September 2021 (2021-09-03) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification Latvia  0–2  Poland Zemgale Olympic Center, Jelgava
16:00 (17:00 EEST) Report Skóraś 55'
Poręba 86'		 Attendance: 99
Referee: Keith Kennedy (Northern Ireland)
7 September 2021 (2021-09-07) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification Latvia  1–3  Germany Daugava Stadium, Riga
18:15 (19:15 EEST) Korotkovs 8' Report Moukoko 25'
Stiller 41'
Thiaw 48'		 Attendance: 330
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer (Austria)
7 October 2021 (2021-10-07) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification Latvia  2–0  San Marino Zemgale Olympic Center, Jelgava
13:00 (14:00 EEST) Bocs 22'
Lusins 78'		 Report Attendance: 173
Referee: Ivana Martinčić (Croatia)
12 October 2021 (2021-10-12) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification Israel  2–1  Latvia HaMoshava Stadium, Petah Tikva
18:30 (19:30 UTC+3)
Report
  • Veips 16'
 Attendance: 650
Referee: Jasmin Sabotic (Luxembourg)
12 November 2021 (2021-11-12) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification Hungary  1–0  Latvia Pancho Aréna, Felcsút
17:45
Report Attendance: 260
Referee: Sandi Putros (Denmark)
12 November 2021 (2021-11-12) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification Hungary  1–0  Latvia Pancho Aréna, Felcsút
17:45
Report Attendance: 260
Referee: Sandi Putros (Denmark)
25 March 2022 (2022-03-25) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification Germany  4–0  Latvia New Tivoli, Aachen
18:15
Report Attendance: 7,718
Referee: Juxhin Xhaja (Albania)
29 March 2022 (2022-03-29) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification San Marino  0–0  Latvia San Marino Stadium, Serravalle
20:30 Report Referee: Luis Texeira (Portugal)
2 June 2022 (2022-06-02) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification Latvia  1–0  Israel Skonto Stadium, Riga
17:30
  • Ozoliņš 46'
 Report Attendance: 300
Referee: Bulat Sariyev (Kazakhstan)
7 June 2022 (2022-06-07) 2023 UEFA Euro U-21 qualification Latvia  0-2  Hungary
Report

Players

Current squad
  • The following players were called up for the friendly matches.[2]
  • Match dates: 23 and 26 March 2023
  • Opposition:  North Macedonia and  Georgia
  • Caps and goals correct as of: 18 November 2022, after the match against  Estonia
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Jānis Beks (2002-11-01) 1 November 2002 5 0 Latvia Metta
1GK Sergejs Vilkovs (2002-09-03) 3 September 2002 1 0 Latvia Tukums 2000
1GK Klāvs Bethers (2003-12-24) 24 December 2003 0 0 Italy Catania
2DF Rūdolfs Zeņģis (2002-03-21) 21 March 2002 9 0 Latvia Jelgava
2DF Markuss Kruglaužs (2002-01-28) 28 January 2002 4 0 Latvia Liepāja
2DF Jegors Novikovs (2003-02-09) 9 February 2003 4 0 Latvia Auda
2DF Aleksejs Kudeļkins (2002-05-08) 8 May 2002 2 0 Latvia Daugavpils
2DF Kārlis Vilnis (2003-07-03) 3 July 2003 1 0 Latvia Metta
2DF Rūdolfs Reingolcs (2002-07-01) 1 July 2002 0 0 Latvia Tukums 2000
2DF Iļja Semjonovs (2002-03-18) 18 March 2002 0 0 Latvia Auda
3MF Deniss Meļņiks (2002-09-07) 7 September 2002 7 0 Latvia Auda
3MF Lukass Vapne (2003-08-31) 31 August 2003 6 0 Latvia Metta
3MF Maksims Fjodorovs (2003-09-24) 24 September 2003 2 0 Latvia Liepāja
3MF Kristofers Rēķis (2003-01-21) 21 January 2003 2 0 Latvia Metta
3MF Oskars Vientiess (2002-10-08) 8 October 2002 2 0 Latvia Metta
3MF Kaspars Anmanis (2002-01-22) 22 January 2002 0 0 Latvia Tukums 2000
3MF Mareks Mikšto (2003-05-20) 20 May 2003 0 0 Latvia Daugavpils
3MF Jevgenijs Miņins (2002-03-17) 17 March 2002 0 0 Latvia Super Nova
3MF Deņiss Rogovs (2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 0 0 Latvia Tukums 2000
4FW Artjoms Puzirevskis (2003-01-11) 11 January 2003 3 0 Latvia Metta
4FW Kristiāns Kaušelis (2003-03-14) 14 March 2003 2 1 Latvia Super Nova
4FW Artūrs Ostapenko (2003-08-28) 28 August 2003 2 0 Latvia Super Nova
4FW Oļģerts Raščevskis (2003-02-18) 18 February 2003 2 0 Latvia Super Nova

Recent call-ups

The following players have been capped in the past 12 months and are still eligible to represent.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Ņikita Šaraņins (2003-01-04) 4 January 2003 0 0 Latvia Daugavpils v.  Lithuania, 20 November 2022
DF Rinalds Aizups (2004-05-31) 31 May 2004 0 0 Latvia Daugavpils v.  Lithuania, 20 November 2022
DF Niks Sliede (2004-03-08) 8 March 2004 0 0 Latvia Tukums 2000 v.  Lithuania, 20 November 2022
MF Eduards Daškevičs (2002-07-12) 12 July 2002 11 0 Norway HamKam v.  Lithuania, 20 November 2022
MF Gļebs Žaleiko (2004-06-27) 27 June 2004 0 0 Latvia RFS v.  Lithuania, 20 November 2022
FW Valerijs Lizunovs (2004-02-24) 24 February 2004 0 0 Latvia Daugavpils v.  Lithuania, 20 November 2022
FW Rolands Bočs (2003-07-03) 3 July 2003 5 1 Germany 1899 Hoffenheim v.  Hungary, 7 June 2022

Staff
Head coachLatvia Aleksandrs Basovs
Assistant coachLatvia Anatolijs Čebans
Assistant coachLatvia Sergejs Golubevs
Goalkeeping coachLatvia Aleksandrs Proskurņins
Fitness coachSpain Andrés Carrillo Fernández
General managerLatvia Ilvars Grīslis
DoctorLatvia Boriss Novikovs
PhysiotherapistLatvia Dmitrijs Jefremenkovs

Most capped players

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
# 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

References
  1. "Games of the XXVI. Olympiad - Football Qualifying Tournament".
  2. "U-21 izlase dosies uz pārabaudes spēlēm Turcijā" (in Latvian). Latvijas Futbola federācija. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
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