The most equal was the first set, which Latvia started with four points in a row, but Norway responded with the same and held a minimal advantage until the middle of the set. In the end, however, the hosts played better, Latvia winning with 25:23.
Latvia broke the second set in the second half, achieving 16:13, 20:15 and 25:21 from 8:11, but the break of the third set was in the middle – from 6:6 to 16:8, winning with 25:16.
Yesterday, the Latvian national team led by Polish coach Michal Gogol won with the result 3-1 (25:20, 21:25, 25:23, 25:18). In the first test match on Thursday, the Latvian national team lost to Ukraine led by Uģis Krastiņš with 0-3.
On January 3, 2009, Latvia beat Norway 3-0 in the World Championship qualification match in Riga.
The Latvian national team will compete in Group B together with the national teams of Austria and Finland in the qualification tournament of the European Championship. The Latvian national team will play in Austria in the qualification tournament on August 3rd, three days later they will host Finland in Valmiera, on August 17th they will meet the Finns on the road and will conclude the group tournament on August 21st in Jelgava with Austria.
Head coach Gogol is assisted by Austris Stahls, as well as two Polish coaches – statistician Adams Tolochko and physical training coach Andrzej Zahorskis.
List of candidates for the Latvian national team:
lifters – Edwin Skrüder, Denis Petrov;
diagonal players – Hermans Egleskalns, Kristaps Platachs, Kristers Dardzāns, Renārs Jansons;
second pace players – Kristaps Šmits, Atvars Ozoliņš, Roman Saušs, Jānis Medenis, Miks Ramanis;
first pace players – Olegs Klopovs, Vladislavs Blumbergs, Toms Schvans, Gustavs Freimanis;
“libero” – Patrik Pinka, Kaspar Kronberg.
