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.
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. Since 2001 the team also participates in the Baltic Cup, winning in 2008. Since 1992 Latvia have already played more than 100 matches.

Current players

The following squad has been called up for the 2021 EC qualification
match against Russia taking place on 15 November 2019.
Players in bold have represented Latvia on senior level. Data as per LFF.
In addition to that, other players were capped or are under consideration of the team management to be capped during the year 2019.

Staff

Recent results

Recent and forthcoming matches

DateTournamentLocationOpponentResultLatvia scorers
22 March 2018Friendly match Tiraspol1:1Rendijs Šibass
1 June 20182018 Under-21 Baltic Cup Jūrmala2:0Vladislavs Fjodorovs, Rendijs Šibass
4 June 20182018 Under-21 Baltic Cup Gargždai0:1
7 September 20182019 EC qualification Zaporizhia2:3Vladislavs Fjodorovs, Mārtiņš Ķigurs
11 September 20182019 EC qualification Jelgava1:2Raivis Andris Jurkovskis
12 October 20182019 EC qualification Rīga0:3
16 October 20182019 EC qualification Andorra la Vella0:0
22 March 2019Antalya Cup 2019 Antalya1:1Daniels Balodis
24 March 2019Antalya Cup 2019 Antalya1:0Kaspars Kokins
26 March 2019Antalya Cup 2019 Antalya1:1Daniels Balodis
9 June 2019Friendly match Klaipėda2:0Dmitrijs Zeļenkovs 2x
6 September 20192021 EC qualification Jelgava0:1
10 September 20192021 EC qualification Novi Sad1:1Marko Regža
11 October 20192021 EC qualification Pärnu1:2Marko Regža
15 October 20192021 EC qualification Rīga0:0
15 November 20192021 EC qualification Rostov0:2
27 March 20202021 EC qualification

Most capped players

Only official matches against U-21 national teams, not including against clubs or any other matches.
#NameCareerCapsGoals
1.Endijs Šlampe2014–2016310
1.Reinis Flaksis2013–2016311
3.Dmitrijs Klimaševičs2014–2016304
4.Andrejs Kiriļins2014–2016290
4.Vladislavs Gutkovskis2014–2016296
4.Antonijs Černomordijs20??–2018291
7.Jevgēņijs Kazačoks20??–2016275
7.Eduards Tīdenbergs20??–2016272
9.Edgars Vardanjans2011–2014251
9.Kaspars Svārups20??–2016253

Best goalscorers

#NameCareerCapsGoals
1.Edgars Gauračs2009–2009910
2.Deniss Rakels2011–2013136
2.Vladislavs Gutkovskis2014–2016296
4.Jevgēņijs Kazačoks2013–2016275
5.Artjoms Rudņevs2009–2009104
5.Dmitrijs Klimaševičs2014–2016304