Markuss Strods could hardly stop smiling after scoring his first goal for Latvia. The 19-year-old found the net in only his third senior international appearance, giving Latvia late hope in their 1-2 UEFA Nations League defeat against Montenegro.
Before speaking with Baltic Football News after the match, Strods was outside the mixed zone on the phone with his family back in Ireland. The smile on his face made it clear what the moment meant to him.
“The emotions are just through the roof at the minute,” Strods told Baltic Football News. “I was on the phone there to my parents. The house at home was going crazy back in Ireland. It’s a very proud moment and hopefully there are more to come.”
Born and raised in Rush, Ireland, to Latvian parents, Strods has spent his entire life in the country and developed through the Irish football system. He currently represents Bohemians, but this international window has provided the teenager with his first taste of senior international football.
His first Latvia goal arrived in the 82nd minute against Montenegro. With Latvia trailing 0-2, the ball bounced around the edge of the penalty area before eventually reaching Strods, who took a touch and found the net.
“I just saw there was lots of chaos around the edge of the box. I saw a gap open and thought, ‘I might get the ball here.’ So I just ran into the space and called for the ball. I don’t even know who had the ball or who assisted me. It just fell to my feet, I took a touch and I think the strike was very bad! But listen, it went into the back of the net, which is all that matters.”
The official assist went to Kristers Čudars, who had only recently entered the pitch to make his own senior Latvia debut.
“I think it was his debut as well, so a debut assist and my first goal. That’s good,” Strods smiled.
The goal sparked Latvia’s best spell of the closing stages as Paolo Nicolato’s side pushed Montenegro deep and searched for an equaliser. Although it never arrived, Strods felt the performance showed a considerable amount of character.
“I thought the boys played really well even before the substitutes came on. When they scored, our heads didn’t drop. We showed character, kept going and kept pushing. We played football and played what Paolo wanted us to play. Obviously, I came on and four minutes later I scored, so it was a very proud moment.”
Back in Ireland, Strods’ family experienced that moment rather differently. His parents, sister and family friends were watching together, with his sister managing to record their reaction to the goal.
“My sister somehow captured the whole video from just before I scored. As soon as it went in, the whole house just blew up. Everyone was screaming. It was just pure emotion. I can’t wait to see them.”
There was another important match taking place back in Ireland at the same time. Strods’ club Bohemians were away to Dundalk in a crucial game in the League of Ireland title race, eventually winning 2-1. With four rounds remaining, Bohemians, St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers are level on points, although Shamrock Rovers have a game in hand.
Before Latvia’s match, Strods had sent a message to his Bohemians teammates wishing them luck.
“They had a game at the same time, so I put in the group chat, ‘Best of luck.’ They’ll probably see that I scored after their game.”
The Montenegro appearance was already Strods third for Latvia, but only a short time ago he arrived at his first senior national-team camp unsure whether he would play at all.
His debut came against Armenia, where Nicolato surprisingly handed the 19-year-old a place in the starting XI. Strods only realised what was happening during Latvia’s final training session before travelling to Yerevan.
“Coming into the camp, because I’m young, I was thinking maybe I’m not even going to get a sniff. I probably won’t even play. Then the day before, just before our flight to Armenia, we had training at Baltic Sports Village. We were doing the usual matchday-minus-one session and then set pieces. I heard my name called out last and I was like, ‘What? Am I really starting?’”
Knowing that his senior international debut would come from the opening whistle made sleeping that night considerably more difficult.
“I was really shocked and nervous. When we were doing the set pieces, I was just standing there asking myself, ‘Am I really starting?’ It took me a while to fall asleep because I kept thinking about it. I didn’t really play the game that I know I can play, but starting for my country was still a really proud moment.”
Strods believes those nerves have gradually disappeared as he has become more comfortable within Nicolato’s squad. He arrived knowing almost nobody and had only a handful of training sessions with his new teammates before being thrown into competitive international football.
“We had only trained together for four days. I’m the new lad here and I didn’t know anyone coming in, so it was about getting to know the group. Now it has started to click and the confidence is building every day. When I scored today, my confidence just went through the roof. Paolo wants everyone to ask for the ball, be confident and show what they can do. I feel like I showed that today.”
The call-up has also represented a significant turnaround in Strods year. He had originally been selected for Latvia in June for the Baltic Cup after establishing himself at Bohemians, only for a quadriceps injury to deny him that opportunity.
The injury came at particularly frustrating timing. After initially struggling for minutes at club level, Strods earned his opportunity against Galway United and quickly became an important part of the Bohemians side, registering two goals and four assists during his strong run of form.
“I was at the top of my form and doing really well. Then the next day in training we were doing some crossing and I just felt my quad go. I got an MRI and it came back as a grade 2C injury, I think, which meant about six weeks out. I was sad that I couldn’t go to my first call-up, but now I’m really happy that I’m here.”
The injury interrupted his momentum and Strods admits he has not yet returned to the same level of form he enjoyed before the setback. That made the timing of this international window particularly important.
“Before coming over, I said hopefully this international break could give me a little boost when I go back. Now I’ve scored my first goal for my country, so hopefully I can go home and start playing well again with the lads.”
Despite being only 19, Strods has also earned responsibility at Bohemians from set pieces. He believes his delivery from dead-ball situations is one of his strongest attributes and appreciates the trust shown in him by Bohemians head coach Alan Reynolds.
“It’s kind of an honour. I’m really good in dead-ball situations, so Alan Reynolds trusts me with corners. I’ve shown that he can trust me because of my assists. Hopefully I can start taking set pieces here soon as well.”
Perhaps the biggest surprise for Strods has been how quickly he has adapted to the level of senior international football. He entered the camp nervous about making the jump from club football in Ireland to the Nations League, but his performances in training quickly gave him confidence that he belonged.
“I was very surprised, actually. On the first day I was nervous going into my first sessions. It’s a new test for me because I’m 19 and I’m going up a level from Bohemians to the Nations League. But I settled in well and I’ve done really well. I’ve even told my friends, ‘Guys, I’m actually doing really well here!’”
There were moments when Strods was disappointed with his first couple of international appearances, but he credits Nicolato, the coaching staff and his new teammates for continuing to encourage him.
“I didn’t have the best two games and I dropped my head a little bit. But Paolo and the assistant kept encouraging me, and all the players kept me going as well. Now I’m just really, really proud.”
Three appearances into his Latvia career, Strods already has his first international start and his first goal. After beginning the window unsure whether he would even get onto the pitch, the 19-year-old will now head into Latvia’s final match against Cyprus with considerably different expectations – and considerably more confidence.
