Latvian Football Federation (LFF) president Vadims Ļašenko shared his assessment of the national team’s performance in 2024, describing it as satisfactory but acknowledging room for improvement.
“To evaluate the past year for the Latvian national team, it was important to gather opinions from various sides, including the head coach, players, and other football experts, overall, I rate the team’s performance in 2024 as satisfactory. It could have been better, of course, and we all wish for that. However, objectively evaluating the teams in UEFA Nations League, it must be admitted that North Macedonia and Armenia are currently stronger teams.”
Ļašenko noted that Latvia faced strong competition in the UEFA Nations League, with North Macedonia and Armenia proving to be formidable opponents. However, he highlighted Latvia’s solid results against the Faroe Islands.
“To meet the minimum target, we had to be better in matches against the Faroe Islands, and we succeeded. In two games against them, we gained four out of six possible points, it so happened that the Faroe Islands unexpectedly collected points against other opponents. Their victory away against Armenia in November, despite Armenia’s statistical dominance, was particularly surprising.”
Reflecting on 2024 as the first year under head coach Paolo Nicolato, Ļašenko praised the team’s gradual adaptation to Nicolato’s methods and tactics.
“This was Paolo Nicolato’s first year in charge of the Latvian national team. We understand that this year was about gradual adaptation, adjusting to the coach’s requirements, and vice versa, both I and others in Latvia’s football community have noticed new dynamics in our team’s performance and style. Several young players have solidified their roles this year and gained valuable experience that has fueled their progress.”
Ļašenko highlighted the emergence of talents such as Dmitrijs Zelenkovs, Renārs Varslavāns, Dario Šits, and Deniss Meļņiks.
“New roles emerged for Dmitrijs Zelenkovs, Renārs Varslavāns, and we saw debuts for Dario Šits and Deniss Meļņiks. The coach’s work and signature style are visible, and we can see the direction in which the team is being built, that is why we are already looking forward to next year’s matches with great anticipation.”
Looking ahead, Ļašenko expressed excitement about Latvia’s upcoming fixtures, particularly their historic match against England.
“For the first time in history, we have drawn a team like England. It will be a real football celebration, and we will strive to use this opportunity to further popularize football in Latvia,”
In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Latvia has been drawn into a challenging group with England, Serbia, Albania, and Andorra.
“We are aware of the challenges this group poses, but I am confident that under Nicolato’s leadership, the team will continue to build on its progress and aim for strong performances,” concluded Ļašenko.