In an interview with Baltic Football News the day before the match at Wembley, Daniels Balodis discussed his adaptation to the field in Andorra, his time in Scotland, the upcoming big game in Wembley and Scotland, as well as the influence on the coach Simo Valakari.
The Latvian national team defender has made 16 appearances for the national team, scoring once against Armenia. His 16th appearance was in a 1-0 win against Andorra, where he played the entire match. He noted that the field conditions during that game were poor. When asked if those conditions were comparable to any other time, such as in Liepāja late in the season or due to the Scottish weather the fields right there, Balodis stated that the field in Andorra was not of good quality and deteriorated as the game progressed. He compared it to a previous experience in Liepāja, where the field was very soft and caused him to lose traction.
Balodis has been in Scotland for almost two months, during which he has made seven appearances – five in the league and two in the cup. He mentioned that he has adapted to living in Perth and now feels at home there. He credited the coach’s early trust in him as a key factor in his quick adjustment.
With a population twice that of Valmiera, Balodis expressed his enjoyment of Perth. He appreciates that the city is not too large, making it easier for him to navigate and get from one place to another. When asked if Perth feels like a football city, he replied, “Yes, it is. You can feel it. You sense the excitement on game days; people can’t wait to support their team.”
With two significant games upcoming – one at Wembley tomorrow and another next month at Hampden Park against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semifinal – Balodis was asked if this phase of his career is the most important yet. He responded thoughtfully, “Every step of your career is very important. You can’t divide your career stages like that or categorize opponents as smaller or bigger. It’s clear that big games are important, but your attitude should remain the same regardless of the opponent. You have to give 100% all the time because your approach should not change. You must do your job to the best of your ability.”
Regarding his expectations for the game at Wembley, Balodis acknowledged its significance but emphasized the importance of staying focused on the game itself. The match between England and Albania had over 82,000 attendees, and the match against England at Wembley is expected to break the attendance record for the Latvian national team. He intends to concentrate on playing their game and putting forth maximum effort on the pitch: “It is not a secret that it will be a huge game. You have to give 100% all the time. If we play our game, then we can think about getting some kind of a result, even though we and the fans know the quality of this English team, it will be a very tough task.”
One of Balodis’s teammates at St. Johnstone, Graham Carey, played at Wembley in 2016 during the League Two play-off final with Plymouth Argyle, where they suffered a 0-2 defeat against AFC Wimbledon. Balodis who can become the second current St. Johnstone player to play at Wembley tomorrow, noted that he can sense Graham’s considerable experience in football.
When asked if he received encouraging messages from his teammates or coach Simo Valakari before leaving for international duty, Balodis mentioned that all his teammates were very supportive and that they would be watching the game against England. This includes Simo Valakari, who has a history with Latvian football; he coached FK Auda and Riga FC for two seasons, winning the Latvian Super Cup with Riga FC in 2024.
Balodis previously knew Simo from competing against him while playing for Valmiera FC and during two matches with champions FC RFS, which included eliminating Simo’s managed Riga FC in the Latvian Cup semifinals. Now, he is experiencing firsthand how influential Simo is as a coach and how welcoming he has been as Balodis transitions to Scottish football. Simo has a wealth of experience, having played in Scotland himself from 1996 to 2000 for Motherwell.
Balodis expressed that it is easy to work with Simo, who possesses extensive football knowledge. He has played a crucial role in helping Balodis settle in Scotland by trusting him and understanding the nuances of the game. Simo pays strong attention to detail, not only focusing on football but also checking in with players about their lives off the field. Balodis remarked, “Simo is the ideal coach for anyone moving abroad to join a new team.”
The Latvian national team, which arrived in England yesterday, will hold the official training session at Wembley Stadium today. They are set to play against England tomorrow at 21:45 Baltic time. This match will mark the first meeting between the two nations at the senior level.