The head coach of the Latvia national football team, Paolo Nicolato, hopes to see the right attitude and progress from the team in the Baltic Cup matches. According to him, the upcoming games will be an important test before the start of the qualifying cycle.
The Latvia national team is finishing its preparations for the Baltic Cup matches, which will take place on June 6 in Kaunas and June 9 in Riga.
The head coach of the team, Paolo Nicolato, acknowledged that the preparation is not without difficulties — several players have been injured and will not be able to help the national team. Nevertheless, the coach remains optimistic and believes that the team is capable of achieving a positive result.
“We have some really serious losses, but there are also reasons for enthusiasm. This is the last opportunity to see the team before the qualifying matches, and I want to see the right attitude,” Nicolato noted.
According to the Italian specialist, the current gathering is important not only in terms of the upcoming games but also as a stage of preparation for more serious tasks that await the team in the fall.
The coach emphasized that the main criterion for their work remains the development of the players. In his opinion, the growth of individual skills inevitably reflects on the quality of the entire team’s play.
“If the players progress, the team improves as well. Step by step, we must become more competitive,” Nicolato stressed.
The Latvian national team has been working under the guidance of the Italian specialist for two years, and now the coach hopes to see practical results from the work done.
It is important to note that the Baltic Cup remains the last official tournament for the national team before the start of the next stage of international competitions. That is why the coaching staff views these matches as an opportunity to assess the team’s readiness in real competitive conditions.
Nicolato noted that the players have fully embraced the coaching staff's requirements and are actively participating in building a new game model. However, now, according to him, the moment has come to confirm progress not only through the quality of football but also through results.
“I feel that the players are fully engaged in our process. But it’s time to show something more and better, including in terms of results,” the coach stated.
He also expressed hope that in September, the Latvia national team will look stronger than a year ago.
The Baltic Cup is considered the oldest international tournament among national teams that is still held today. Its history began back in 1928, and for the teams of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, it remains one of the main regional competitions.
The upcoming matches will show how ready the Latvia national team is to take the next step and turn noticeable game progress into more stable results.
