For the first time since November 2024, striker Roberts Uldriķis is back in the Latvian national team after a long recovery from a serious injury.
The forward suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in February last year, which ruled him out for almost the entire 2025 season. He returned to action with Arminia Bielefeld in January and is now once again part of the national team setup. Ahead of the upcoming match, Baltic Football News spoke with Uldriķis about his return, his rehabilitation period, memories of Gibraltar and his current situation at Arminia Bielefeld.
“It’s a very positive feeling. I really enjoy being back in the camp,” Uldriķis said. “A lot of hard work has gone into this. It’s been a long time to reach this moment again – almost a year and a half since my last game for the national team, against Armenia, where I scored. I worked hard to return and be back with the team, so I’m really happy about it.”
During his rehabilitation, Uldriķis stayed as connected to the team as possible, even if only from the outside. “I managed to visit one training camp, I think it was in September. I just came to greet the guys and the coaches. I followed almost all the matches and watched videos – it was an interesting experience to be more like a fan than a player.”
Although he has only recently rejoined the squad, he already notices changes in the team under head coach Paolo Nicolato. “I’ve only had two training sessions, so it’s hard to say too much, but what I noticed is that now there is more focus on team play. Before, there was more emphasis on individual situations. Now you can see we’ve taken the next step – working on combinations and playing as a team. Players understand the coach better, and the coach understands the players. The chemistry is definitely stronger than in the early camps.”
Uldriķis also shared his thoughts on the English Premier League side Sunderland defender Denniss Cirkin who joined the team for the first time on Tuesday and took part of his first training session with the fellow Latvian teammates.
“It’s probably not easy to come from a different country and league to something new. He will need time to adapt as it should, but he looks like a fantastic player and also a good person. We’ve spoken a lot – we sit next to each other at lunch. He’s calm, asks questions and observes everything and tries to take it all in.”
The upcoming match against Gibraltar brings back both positive and painful memories. While Uldriķis once contributed with a goal and an assist in a win there, he was also part of the shocking 0-1 defeat eight years ago. “I remember that game very clearly. We conceded from a set piece with a deflection. It was a very unpleasant loss. After the match, we – the younger players at the time like Eduards Emsis, Dāvis Indrāns and Vladislavs Fjodorovs – sat together and talked. The emotions were really negative.”
That experience, however, helped him understand how quickly football can change. “There are bad moments, then good moments. After that game, everything felt negative, but I had a strong few months in the Virslīga and then moved to Sion in Switzerland. Football changes very quickly.”
The same applies to Gibraltar as an opponent. What was once considered a catastrophic defeat – a result that cost legendary coach Aleksandrs Starkovs his job – is now seen in a different light.
“Gibraltar has improved a lot. Some of their players compete in European competitions with Lincoln Red Imps. They are more compact defensively now, and it won’t be easy to break them down with individual actions. I think set pieces will be very important for both teams.”
Speaking about his recovery, Uldriķis admitted he could have returned earlier but chose not to rush the process. “It was possible to come back earlier, maybe in December, but it wouldn’t have been the right decision. We took extra time to do everything properly instead of rushing. That helped me come back stronger.”
Since returning, he has gradually rebuilt his form at club level. “I started with appearances from the bench, got an assist, then earned a place in the starting lineup and scored twice. Since then, I’ve played several matches, including full 90 minutes. It feels great to be back in football rhythm.”
Returning back to play in Germany has also reminded him of the scale of football outside Latvia. “In Latvia, people might not fully realise how big football is. Even in the second Bundesliga, stadiums are sometimes bigger than in top leagues elsewhere. At Arminia Bielefeld, we have a 27,000-capacity stadium that is full, and the fans support us everywhere, even in away matches.”
Having played in several countries, including the Netherlands, Switzerland and now Germany, Uldriķis also reflected on stylistic differences. “In the Netherlands, it’s more technical and attacking football, which I really enjoyed. Germany is different – much more intense, with more duels and physical play. As a striker, especially being tall, there are a lot of aerial battles. But I feel stronger now after my recovery and can use both my technical and physical qualities.”
After a long absence, Uldriķis returns to the national team not only physically ready, but also with a renewed mindset shaped by both difficult and rewarding experiences.
