Latvian Football Federation president Vadims Ļašenko in a interview to Latvian Television morning news has said Latvia should be aiming to win their UEFA Nations League group when the competition returns later this year.
Latvia have been drawn alongside Montenegro, Cyprus and Armenia in their League C group, and Ļašenko believes Paolo Nicolato’s side are capable of finishing first.
“Our task, of course, is first place,” Ļašenko told Latvian Television’s “Rīta Panorāma”. “With this coach, Nicolato, knowing he is working in his third year here in Latvia, I think it will happen. From our side, we will do everything to help him.”
Latvia’s immediate focus is the Baltic Cup, which begins with an away match against Lithuania. Ļašenko said he expects Latvia to lift the trophy. The federation president also revisited the debate over Nicolato’s position earlier this spring, stressing the Italian has the backing of both the LFF and the players.
“It’s nice to see his modern approach to the training process,” Ļašenko said. “He is always in Latvia, thinks not only about the national team, but also communicates with club management and coaches of other national teams, which is very important for us. This is not only a national team issue, it’s an issue for the entire football pyramid.”
Another major talking point in the spring was the potential arrival of former Sunderland player Denniss Cirkins into the Latvia set-up. Ļašenko said he still hopes to see Cirkins in a Latvia shirt in the autumn, adding that the English FA has no objections to a switch.
