Latvia national under-21 football team
Encyclopedia
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 former Latvia football team
captain Mihails Zemļinskis
and is currently captained by Skonto defender
Kaspars Dubra
.
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
.
, 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 June 6, that ended in a 1-1 draw. Since 2001 the team also participates in the Baltic Cup
, winning in 2008. Since 1992 Latvia have already played more than 100 matches.
matches against France
, taking place in Riga
, Latvia
on September 2, 2011 and Romania
, taking place in Medias
, Romania
on September 6, 2011.
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Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation
Latvian Football Federation
The Latvian Football Federation is the governing body of football in Latvia based in the capital, Riga. It organises the Latvian football championship , Latvian Football Cup and the Latvia national football team. LFF became a member of FIFA in 1922, but following Latvia's annexation by the Soviet...
, the governing body of football in Latvia
Football in Latvia
Football is not Latvia's national sport, however, in recent years it has gained popularity. The national team have achieved some notable results in recent years. The most remarkable of which was the participation in the Euro 2004 in Portugal after having beaten Turkey in the play-off...
. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
, held every two years. The team is coached
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
by former Latvia football team
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
captain Mihails Zemļinskis
Mihails Zemlinskis
Mihails Zemļinskis is a former Latvian football player. Born in Riga, he didn't play for a club other than Skonto FC except for two short spells in Hungary and Israel...
and is currently captained by Skonto defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Kaspars Dubra
Kaspars Dubra
Kaspars Dubra is a professional football player from Latvia. He plays as a centre back and defensive midfielder. His current club is Skonto FC. Previously he played for Olimps/RFS. He has great scoring ability for defender....
.
Following the realignment of UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
's youth competitions in 1976, under-21 football teams in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
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
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
meaning a player can represent the national team until the age of 23. Many U-21 players later represent the senior side
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
.
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
Oskars Klava
Oskars Kļava is a Latvian football defender, currently playing for FC Khimki on loan from FC Anzhi Makhachkala.-Club career:As a youth player Kļava played for FK Liepājas Metalurgs youth team, making his first-team debut in 2002...
, Deniss Ivanovs
Deniss Ivanovs
Deniss Ivanovs is a football defender from Latvia who currently plays for FK Baku in the Azerbaijan Premier League.-Club career:Ivanovs has played all his career at Metalurgs where he made his debut in 2001...
, Edgars Gauračs
Edgars Gauracs
Edgars Gauračs is a Latvian footballer, currently playing for Russian First Division club Yenisey Krasnoyarsk and Latvia football team as a striker.- Ascoli :...
and Artjoms Rudņevs
Artjoms Rudnevs
Artjoms Rudņevs is a Latvian football forward of Russian origin. He plays as a striker for Lech Poznań.- Club Career :...
have all played for the U-21 side and are now first eleven players for Latvia
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
internationally.
Latvia U-21 team plays its home matches at the Skonto stadions
Skonto stadions
Skonto Stadium is a football stadium in Riga, Latvia. The stadium has 9,500 seats and was built in 2000. This is the biggest football stadium in Latvia.- Description :Skonto Stadium is located in the heart of Riga - Street E. Melngaiļa 1a, Riga, Latvia...
, which is also the home stadium of Latvia
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
senior side. Before the opening of the Skonto stadions
Skonto stadions
Skonto Stadium is a football stadium in Riga, Latvia. The stadium has 9,500 seats and was built in 2000. This is the biggest football stadium in Latvia.- Description :Skonto Stadium is located in the heart of Riga - Street E. Melngaiļa 1a, Riga, Latvia...
the team played its home matches in many different venues all around the country, including Ozolnieki
Ozolnieki
Ozolnieki is a village in Latvia, the administrative centre of Ozolnieki municipality. The village located at Iecava river approximately from the capital Riga and from city Jelgava....
, Daugavpils
Daugavpils
Daugavpils is a city in southeastern Latvia, located on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city gets its name. Daugavpils literally means "Daugava Castle". With a population of over 100,000, it is the second largest city in the country after the capital Riga, which is located some...
and Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
.
History
As a team, Latvia U-21 was formed in 1992, after regaining independence from the USSR. The team played its first match in VilniusVilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
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
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
against Ireland U-21 on June 6, that ended in a 1-1 draw. Since 2001 the team also participates in the Baltic Cup
Baltic Cup
The Baltic Cup is a biennial football competition contested between national teams from the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania every two years. During the Soviet era, Belarus also participated in some of the competitions...
, winning in 2008. Since 1992 Latvia have already played more than 100 matches.
Current players
The following players have been called up for the ECQUEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
matches against France
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
, taking place in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
on September 2, 2011 and Romania
Romania national under-21 football team
The Romania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years....
, taking place in Medias
Medias
Mediaș is the second largest city in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania.-Geographic location:Mediaș is located in the middle basin of Târnava Mare River, at 39 km from Sighișoara and 41 km from Blaj. The health resort Bazna, officially recognized for the first time in 1302, is...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
on September 6, 2011.
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Staff
| Head Coach |  Mihails ZemļinskisMihails Zemlinskis Mihails Zemļinskis is a former Latvian football player. Born in Riga, he didn't play for a club other than Skonto FC except for two short spells in Hungary and Israel... |
| Assistant Coach | Jānis Intenbergs Janis Intenbergs Jānis Intenbergs is a Latvian football manager and a former football forward who played for the top Latvian clubs in 1980s.-Playing career:Intenbergs is considered one the all time greatest footballers from Liepāja... |
| Assistant Coach |  Saulius Cekanavičius |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Aleksandrs Proskurņins |
| Doctor | Boriss Novikovs |
| Doctor | Oļegs Samoiļenko |
| Team coordinator | Valērijs Platoņenko |
| Administrator | Ilvars Grīslis |
Recent and forthcoming matches
| Date | Tournament | Location | Opponent | Result | Latvia scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 March 2011 | Friendly | Kaunas Kaunas Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation... |
Lithuania U-21 Lithuania national under-21 football team The Lithuania national under-21 football team is the feeder team for the Senior team.Coach: Vitalijus StankevičiusCaptain:-Goalkeepers:-Defenders:-Midfielders:-Forwards:-External links:*... |
2:1 | Deniss Rakels Deniss Rakels Deniss Rakels is a Latvian footballer, who currently plays for I liga club GKS Katowice in Poland on loan from Zagłębie Lubin.-Early career in Latvia:... 2x |
| 3 June 2011 | UEFA Euro 2013 qualification | Zlate Moravce Zlaté Moravce Zlaté Moravce is a town in south-western Slovakia.-Basic data:It is the capital and the biggest town of Zlaté Moravce District. It is approximately 120 km from the Slovak capital Bratislava and 32 km from Nitra.-History:... |
Slovakia U-21 Slovakia national under-21 football team The Slovakia national under-21 football team, controlled by the Slovak Football Association, is Slovakia's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Slovakia national football team.-European Under-21 Championship record:... |
0:2 | |
| 7 June 2011 | Friendly | Tallinn Tallinn Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list... |
Estonia U-21 Estonia national under-21 football team The Estonian U-21 national football team is the football team representing Estonia in competitions for under-21 year old players.-2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification Group 5:-Current table:-Fixtures and recent results:... |
0:1 | |
| 2 September 2011 | UEFA Euro 2013 qualification | Riga Riga Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,... |
France U-21 France national under-21 football team The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years... |
0:3 | |
| 6 September 2011 | UEFA Euro 2013 qualification | Medias Medias Mediaș is the second largest city in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania.-Geographic location:Mediaș is located in the middle basin of Târnava Mare River, at 39 km from Sighișoara and 41 km from Blaj. The health resort Bazna, officially recognized for the first time in 1302, is... |
Romania U-21 Romania national under-21 football team The Romania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years.... |
See also
- Latvia fotball teamLatvia national football teamThe Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
- Latvia U-19Latvia national under-19 football teamThe Latvia national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of Latvia and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, held every year.-Coaching staff:...
- Latvia U-17Latvia national under-17 football teamThe Latvia national under-17 football team or Latvia U-17 represents Latvia in association football at the under-17 youth level, and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation....