After six games, North Macedonia has 16 points in the subgroup and secured a ticket to division B, Armenia won seven points, Faroe Islands got six points, and Latvia ranked fourth with four points.
Among the four holders of fourth place in Division C, Latvia is currently in first place with four points out of six, which would allow them to fight for remaining in Division C, but the other teams still have to play their final matches at the beginning of next week. Luxembourg is second with two points, Azerbaijan has one point and Lithuania has no points.
Roberts Uldriķis scored the only goal for Latvia against Armenia.
As the game started calmly in the first minutes, both teams started to attack more actively and in the 13th minute, Armenia had a chance to score a goal after a corner kick, but Raivis Andris Jurkovskis hit the ball behind the goal after a cross.
After 15 minutes played, a good counterattack was already given to the Latvian football players, but the Armenians intercepted Jurkovski’s pass. After that, Renārs Varslavāns tried to execute a kick in the opponent’s penalty area, which was blocked.
Less than ten minutes later, the Latvians succeeded in counterattacking again, but this time the Armenians intercepted Varslavān’s pass as the ball did not reach Jānis Ikaunieks. A few minutes later, Vladislavs Gutkovskis tried to end the attack with an accurate shot, but the ball flew past the goal.
Towards the end of the first half, Armenia launched a counterattack, which was successfully stopped by Andrejs Tsiganiks. Shortly before going into the break, after the Armenian corner kick, Latvian football players went on a counterattack again, this time also ending without a shot on goal.
At the beginning of the second half, Armenia was put in the lead by Eduards Spercjans, who headed the ball into the Latvian goal in the 48th minute after Lukas Selarayan’s cross.
In the middle of the half, several substitutions were made in the Latvian national team, and in the 71st minute, Uldriķis, who came on as a substitute, achieved a draw. In the penalty area, Dmitry Zelenkov passed to Udrikis, who, standing with his back to the goal, easily sent the ball into the Armenian goal.
Armenia quickly regained the one-goal advantage when, in the 75th minute, Ciganiks failed to protect the rebounding ball at the Latvian goal, and Arturs Miranjans delivered the ball into the Latvian goal from a very close distance.
On the other hand, in the 85th minute, after a mistake made by Tsyganik, the counter-attack gave way to the Armenians, but Antony Chernomordy stopped it. This was followed by another Armenian corner kick, which was inaccurate and allowed Latvia to get the ball.
During the compensation, the Latvians controlled the ball more, but they did not manage to get any scoring opportunities, as the game ended in favor of Armenia.
Latvia played its previous match on Thursday, when it lost 0:1 away to North Macedonia. A failure for Armenia as well, who recognized the superiority of the Faroe Islands at home with the same result.
In Group C4 matches, the Latvian national team, making its debut in the C division of the UEFA Nations League, lost to Armenia 1:4 in Yerevan in September and defeated the Faroe Islands 1:0 at home. In October, Latvia lost 0:3 to North Macedonia at home, but played 1:1 with the Faroe Islands away.
In the first three seasons of the UEFA Nations League, the Latvian national team competed in the D League, from which they managed to get out in 2022, when they were defeated in the group with Moldova, Andorra and Liechtenstein.
The winner of the group will enter the B league, but the last place holder will have to participate in the play-offs to keep the place in the C league.
Paolo Nicolato is assisted by coaches Massimo Paganins and Aleksandrs Cauņa, goalkeeping coach Andris Vanin, physical training coaches Vincenzo Pincolini and Māris Smirnovs, as well as video analysts Leonardo Carletti and Ilya Shčanitsins.
What are the key factors contributing to the success of North Macedonia in Balkan football?
Interview: Time.news Editor Meets Expert on Balkan Football
Time.news Editor: Good morning and welcome to our readers! Today, we’re diving into the recent developments in Balkan football. With us is Dr. Elena Petrov, a sports analyst and expert in football dynamics in Eastern Europe. Thank you for joining us, Dr. Petrov.
Dr. Elena Petrov: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to be here and discuss the exciting world of Balkan football.
Editor: Let’s start with the latest results from Division C. North Macedonia has impressively secured a spot in Division B—what do you think contributed to their success?
Dr. Petrov: North Macedonia’s success is definitely a result of solid teamwork and strategic gameplay. They’ve consistently capitalized on their opponents’ weaknesses and demonstrated strong offensive plays. With 16 points from six matches, it shows they have effectively utilized their resources and have a clear understanding of their game plan.
Editor: Meanwhile, Latvia ended up in fourth place in their subgroup. They faced Armenia recently and struggled a bit. Can you shed some light on that match and Latvia’s overall performance?
Dr. Petrov: Absolutely. The match against Armenia was a microcosm of Latvia’s struggles this season. They started the game cautiously, and even though they created some chances, they couldn’t finish effectively. Their defensive lapses led to goals against them, which was particularly evident with the way Armenia regained their lead after Latvia equalized. It’s a tough learning curve, especially since they’re trying to maintain their position in Division C.
Editor: You mentioned the defensive lapses. Latvia seems to have had difficulty closing out matches. What would you say they need to work on moving forward?
Dr. Petrov: They definitely need to focus on their defensive coordination. It’s crucial that all players understand their roles, especially during set pieces. The miscommunication that led to Armenia’s second goal is a clear example. Additionally, refining their counterattacking strategy could help them convert more of those chances into goals, which they’ve unfortunately missed in past matches.
Editor: Speaking of matches, Roberts Uldriķis was able to score for Latvia. How significant is that for him and the team?
Dr. Petrov: Uldriķis’s goal is quite significant for both him and the team. Scoring, especially against a team like Armenia, can boost his confidence and reaffirm his place in the squad. For Latvia, his ability to find the net is vital if they hope to stay competitive. They will rely on players like him to turn close matches into wins.
Editor: Looking at the current standings, Latvia is in a precarious position. What do you predict for them in their upcoming matches?
Dr. Petrov: Latvia needs to secure points in their final matches, and they must approach the game with a more aggressive mentality. The competition is fierce, especially with teams like Luxembourg and Azerbaijan still vying to improve their positions. If they can tighten their defense and capitalize on scoring opportunities, there’s a chance they can avoid relegation.
Editor: It seems like there’s a lot at stake for them. Lastly, how do you assess the overall performance of the teams in Division C this season?
Dr. Petrov: Division C has been quite dynamic, with many teams showing improvement. There are talented players emerging, and it’s exciting to watch how these teams adapt and grow. The competition remains healthy, which is vital for the development of football in the region.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Petrov, for your insightful analysis today. It will be fascinating to see how the rest of the season plays out for these teams.
Dr. Petrov: My pleasure! I look forward to many thrilling matches ahead in Balkan football.
Editor: And thank you to our readers for tuning in. Stay with us for more updates on football and all things sports!