The Latvian national team is set for a major test on home soil as they welcome England national football team to the iconic BTA Daugava Stadium on Tuesday evening. A day before the match, captain Antonijs Černomordijs and head coach Paolo Nicolato faced the media to share their thoughts, emotions, and expectations ahead of the high-profile encounter.
The atmosphere in the press room was a mixture of determination and reflection, with the team still feeling the sting of their recent draw to Andorra national football team. But Nicolato made it clear – the team must look forward, not back.
“Devastating might be too much,” Nicolato said when asked about the Andorra loss. “The picture was clear. We are not yet ready to dominate, and we have things to improve – especially our attitude. Tactically and strategically we’ve made progress, but sometimes we’re too nice on the pitch. We need to be the bad guys when it matters.”
The Italian coach stressed that the opening stages of the match against Andorra were unacceptable. “The first part of the first half was very bad. We have to be patient and learn from every match,” he added.
Černomordijs echoed his coach’s sentiment, admitting the team started flat in their previous outing. “We were not ready for the battle they came out with,” he admitted. “Against England, we need to show from the first minute that we’re here to fight. Every ball will matter. What we failed to do against Andorra, we must do tomorrow.”
The captain also noted that wind conditions could once again play a role, as they did in the Andorra match. When asked about the pre-match coin toss, he said he consults with his goalkeeper and defenders before deciding which side to start on.
Nicolato provided an encouraging injury update, confirming that almost every player is fit to play. Only Dario Šits remains a doubt because of his conditioning, with a final decision expected in the evening.
He also reiterated his faith in goalkeeper Krišjānis Zviedris despite his error in the last match. “Krišjānis is still my number one,” Nicolato stated. “I don’t expect many changes to the starting lineup.”
The coach highlighted the team’s improved second-half performance against Andorra as a sign of progress even though the result was not good. “With a bit of luck, we could have taken more from that game and the previous one. We created chances, but lacked the finishing touch. That’s football. The key now is to turn those moments into goals.”
Another talking point was the potential milestone for Andrejs Cigaņiks, who could tie a national record for consecutive appearances. Nicolato praised the players leadership and international experience.
“Andrejs is very important for us,” he said. “Even at 28, he can still improve. He brings something we lack – experience at the highest level. He’s a key figure in this team.”
When asked about his future and potential contract extension, Nicolato was composed. “This is not the time to talk about it,” he said. “One match doesn’t change what I’ve done in two years. I have my ideas.”
The defeat to Andorra wasn’t easy to forget, Černomordijs admitted. But the team has shifted its focus. “It was tough because we wanted to win,” he said. “But we moved on quickly. We’ll analyze it after training and now focus on England. We’ve studied them, and we’ll look to exploit any weaknesses.”
Kick-off between Latvia national football team and England is set for 9:45 p.m. local time.
