Latvian footballers in a test match with Azerbaijan’s tie / day

Kristers Penkevics, Bruno Melnis and Gleb Žaleiko made their debut in the Latvian national team.

At the start of the game, more balls were controlled by the visitors, but the first moments of the Latvians were in the second ten minutes of the regular time after a standard situation, threatening the goal to Marko Regg and Denis Melnik.

In the second half, another debutant Melnis went to the field after Penkevica’s injury, who made a shot from the goal immediately after going on the field. In the last ten minutes of the regular time, the debut team also experienced Žaleiko

Latvia ranks 138th in the world rankings of the International Football Federation (FIFA) and 119th in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijan team is led by Portuguese coach Fernand Santus.

In the last match in March 2022, Latvia won with a 1-0 win with Vladislav Gutkovsky.

Head coach Paolo Nikolato has invited 25 players to the team. Four footballers – Kristaps Grabovskis, Bruno Melnis, Gleb Žaleiko and Kristers Penkevics – have been called to the adult unit for the first time.

On Tuesday, the Latvian team will host Albania at Skonto Stadium in the 2026 World Cup qualifying match.

In the previous team break, the Latvian team started the World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 victory over Andorra and a 0: 3 loss to England.

In Group K, England has six points, three points for Albania and Latvia, but Andorra and Serbia, who have not yet played qualifying games, are without points.

The World Cup finals will take place in Canada, Mexico and the US in June and July 2026.

Latvian men’s football team candidates:

goalkeepers – Rihards Matrevics (« Auda »), Krišjānis Zviedris (« Riga »), Frank Davis Orols (« Super Nova »);

Guards – Andrejs Ciganik (« Luzern », Switzerland), Raivis Andris Jurkovskis, Antonijs Chernomordijs, Maxim Tonešev (all – « Riga »), Krister Tobera (« Aberdeen », Scotland), Vitaly Jagodinsky (Pnompen « Visakha » Visakha, Cambodia.  » Johnstone « , Scotland), Dennis Melnik ( » Auda « ), Vyacheslav Isajev ( » Liepaja « );

midfielders – Alvis Jaunzems (Melecas « Stal », Poland), Alexei Savelyev (Buzeu « Gloria », Romania), Eduards Dashķevičs (« Riga »), Renars Varslavans (« Auda »), Dmitry Zelenkov, Gleb. Norway), Kristaps Grabovsky (« Metta »), Kristers Penkevics (« Jelgava »);

Attackers – Jānis Ikaunieks (RFS), Vladislav Gutkovsky (Citizen of Tejona, South Korea), Marko Regga (« Riga »), Bruno Melnis (« Liepaja »).