Latvia will look to respond to their disappointing defeat in Armenia when they host Cyprus at Skonto Stadium in their second UEFA Nations League match on Monday evening. Kick-off in Rīga is scheduled for 19:00.
Paolo Nicolato’s side began their League C campaign on Friday with five players making their senior international debuts, but produced a toothless performance in a 0-2 defeat to Armenia, registering just one shot on target. Nicolato initially said after the match that he was satisfied with Latvia’s game plan, but acknowledged at Sunday’s pre-match press conference that the approach had not been the best and that his team had defended too deep – something he wants to avoid against Cyprus.
Denniss Cirkins and Markuss Strods were handed their debuts from the start in Yerevan, while Oskars Vientiess, Alberts Aleksanjans and Danila Patijčuks came off the bench to make their first senior international appearances.
Cyprus also arrive in Rīga searching for their first points of the campaign after beginning with a 1-2 away defeat against Montenegro. Their only goal was scored by Marcus Edwards, who marked his international debut by finding the net after recently choosing to represent Cyprus, for whom he qualifies through his mother.
Like Latvia, Cyprus have no players currently representing clubs in Europe’s top five leagues. One of their main attacking threats is Ioannis Pittas, who has scored 11 goals in 59 international appearances.
The two countries have met only three times previously. Their most recent encounter came in March 2024, when they played out a 1-1 friendly draw in what was Nicolato’s first match in charge of Latvia. The other two meetings took place in the second half of the 1990s, with Cyprus winning both friendlies.
Asked to compare Armenia and Cyprus at his pre-match press conference, Nicolato highlighted the different styles Latvia will face. While Armenia are more comfortable keeping the ball on the ground and building through possession, the Italian expects Cyprus to adopt a more direct approach.
Monday’s match begins a run of two consecutive Nations League games at Skonto Stadium for Latvia. They will host Montenegro on October 2 before concluding the long September-October international window with an away match against Cyprus on October 5.
