Latvia national football team - Definition and Overview

Latvia

Latvia_football_federation.gif Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname	-
Association	Latvian Football Federation
Coach	Jurijs Andrejevs, 2004-
Most caps	Vitalijs Astafjevs (110)
Top scorer	Eriks Petersons (24)
Home colours 　 Away colours
First International Latvia 1 - 1 Estonia (Riga, Latvia; 24 September, 1922)
Largest win Estonia 1 - 8 Latvia (Tallin, Estonia; 18 August, 1942)
Worst defeat Sweden 12 - 0 Latvia (Stockholm, Sweden; 29 May, 1927)
World Cup
Appearances	none (First in -)
Best result	-
European Championship
Appearances	1 (First in 2004)
Best result	Round 1, 2004

The Latvian national football team (Izlase in Latvian) is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia, and represents the country in international football competitions, such as World Cup and the European Championships.

Latvia played its first match in 1922, a game against Estonia; the result was a 1-1 draw. Latvia are by far the most successful of the Baltic states, as well as being only team qualified to final stage of European Championship, they won the Baltic Cup 19 times.

In 1940 Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1991 and played their first match as a new nation against Estonia on the November 16th of that year.

Latvia was a surprise qualifer for the 2004 European Football Championship, after they beat Turkey in a playoff to reach the final tournament.

Vitalijs Astafjevs has played for Latvia more times than anyone else. He has 110 caps currently. Eriks Petersons is the top scorer with 24, with Maris Verpakovskis second with 16.

World Cup record

• 1930 - Did not enter
• 1934 - Did not enter
• 1938 - Did not qualify
• 1950 to 1990 - Did not enter, was part of USSR
• 1994 - Did not qualify
• 1998 - Did not qualify
• 2002 - Did not qualify

European Championship record

• 1960 to 1992 - Did not enter, was part of USSR
• 1996 - Did not qualify
• 2000 - Did not qualify
• 2004 - Round 1

Famous players

Before 1940:

• Eriks Petersons
• Janis Lidmanis

After 1991:

• Aleksandrs Kolinko
• Igors Stepanovs
• Vitalijs Astafjevs
• Maris Verpakovskis
• Andrejs Rubins
• Andrejs Prohorenkovs
• Marian Pahars

Top Latvia goalscorers

Latvia coaches

Current roster

See the EURO 2004 squad.

External links

• Official site of national football federation (http://www.lff.lv)
• RSSSF archive of Latvia national team results (http://www.rsssf.com/tablesl/let-intres.html)
• RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers (http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/let-recintlp.html)