The Latvian men’s handball team concluded its recent European Championship qualifying window with a 29–44 loss to France at the Zemgales Olympic Center in Jelgava, according to reports from LSM.
This result followed a 24–33 defeat to Poland in their opening match of the qualification cycle, marking a challenging start to the group stage for the Latvian side.
Jānis Pāvels Valkovskis led the Latvian offensive against the French side, recording ten goals in the match. Additional contributions came from Leonards Valkovskis and Valdis Kalniņš, who each netted five goals, while Rauls Erlends Serafimovičs added four.
France’s attack proved potent, led by Igo Deskā with six goals. Melvins Richardson, Dika Mems, and Tibo Briē each contributed five goals to the final tally, according to data cited by LSM.
Speaking to LSM, Jānis Pāvels Valkovskis acknowledged the difficulty of keeping pace with the French squad, stating that the team must analyze the initial portion of the game to build on for future performances. He added that attempting to outrun the French team with the current squad’s capabilities is not feasible.
“Pirmās divdesmit minūtes mēs labi turējāmies pretim,” Jānis Pāvels Valkovskis said.
Dainis Krištopāns is sidelined while rehabilitating following a meniscus operation, and Jevgeņijs Rogonovs is absent due to an ankle injury. Artūrs Meikšāns and Ņikita Pančenko were unavailable for the window due to personal circumstances.
The current squad composition reflects a reliance on both domestic and international experience. Of the 16 players selected by the coaching staff, 11 compete for clubs in Germany, Norway, Czechia, Romania, Switzerland, and Spain.
The remaining five players are based in Latvia, including four from Dobeles “Tenax” and one from the ASK/MSĢ program. The coaching staff supporting Margota Valkovska includes assistants Aleksandrs Pētersons and Sandris Veršakovs, with Dainis Putra overseeing goalkeeper training.
The French national team arrived in Latvia with a 32-person delegation, exceeding the typical size of 21 people. Aleksandrs Radčenko, executive director of the Latvian Handball Federation, told LSM that the team’s primary focus remains on reducing minor errors, noting that the issues faced against France were similar to those experienced in the loss to Poland. Radčenko emphasized that the squad is facing a top-tier opponent.
“Redzam, kādi pretim ir spēlētāji – Francija ir TOP līmeņa komanda,” Aleksandrs Radčenko, executive director of the Latvian Handball Federation, said.
Latvia is competing in a group alongside France, Poland, and Romania for the 2028 European Championship. The qualifying format involves three rounds of home-and-away matches, with windows scheduled for November, March, and May.
The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-place finishers, will secure a spot in the final tournament held in January 2028. Comparisons for third-place rankings will be based on results against the first and second-place teams in each group.
The Latvian national team is scheduled to return to action in March for two qualifying matches against Romania. These fixtures will serve as the next opportunity for the team to collect points in the group standings, as they continue their path toward the 2028 championship.
