The Latvian U-19 men’s football team fought to a goalless draw 0:0 (0:0) with Austria, the favorite of the selection group, in the first match of the qualification round of the 2023 European Championship on Saturday in Bucharest.
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In the first game of the tournament, the young players of Latvia did not score a goal either, Wednesday’s duel with Romania also ended 0:0. In both “dry” games, the goal of the Latvian national team was guarded by Nikita Parfjonovs.
In Saturday’s match, the Latvian footballers did not hit the ball into the rectangle of the goal, but they did hit the structure. The Austrians had three shots on goal.
Due to an injury, the potential offensive leader of the national team, Dario Šits, could not help the Latvian national team, for whom the tournament has ended due to an injury.
The second game of the group, in which Romania and Lithuania met, also ended in a goalless draw 0:0 (0:0).
After two games, Austria has four points, Latvia and Romania have scored two points each, and Lithuania has one point.
On Tuesday, the Latvians will face Lithuania and in case of victory, the team led by Jakub Dovalil will secure a place in the elite round.
The top two teams from each group, as well as the best of the third-place finishers (taking into account the results against the top two finishers of their group), will advance to the qualification round. These teams will earn a place in the elite round, which will take place next spring, and the final tournament with the participation of eight teams is scheduled for July in Malta.
In June, the U-19 national team hosted the Baltic Cup tournament, winning the traditional competition for the third time in a row.
The composition of the Latvian U-19 men’s football team in the European Championship qualification tournament:
Goalkeepers: Nikita Parfjonovs (Skanste SK), Nikita Pinchuk (“Liepāja”), Dāvis Veisbuk (Jūrmala “Spartaks”);
Defenders: Denis Silayev-Kozurov, Gleb Kachanov (both – “Riga”), Dāvis Vejkrieger (“Jelgava”), Daniels Nosegbe Suško (“Napoli”, Italy), Nik Sliede (“Tukums 2000″/”Telms”), Kristers Atars (“Super Nova”), Maksims Semeško (“Ventspils”);
Midfielders: Nikita Pashnievs (“Paganese, Italy”), Kristers Volkovs (Grobinas SC/LFS), Markus Maximus Alpen (“Spartaks” Jurmalas), Kristaps Kārlis Krieviņš, Armans Muradjans, Dans Sirbu, Glebs Patika (all – “Riga”), Gleb Žaleiko (RFS);
Forwards: Bruno Melnis (“Metta”), Dario Shits (“Parma”, Italy), Valerijs Lizunov (“Daugavpils”).
