With a high-quality and organized game for the Latvian men’s football team in the 2022 World Cup qualification tournament, there is an opportunity to show their strength, in a conversation with the Latvian Football Federation (LFF), the defender expressed Marc Osh.
It has already been reported that the lottery in Zurich revealed that the Latvian men’s soccer team in the 2022 World Cup qualifying European Zone G group will meet with the Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Montenegro and Gibraltar.
Ošs, who plays in Switzerland, and Jānis Ikaunieks, who was crowned Latvian vice-champion this year, shared their thoughts on the opponents in a conversation with LFF.
“There are national teams we have already played against, we have played successfully against. There are also state entities against which bitter memories have been experienced. There is also a national team that I really want to play against, that I have not played against before – it is the Netherlands, ”Osh sums up the lottery. “There is a good company in our group, where we can show our strengths with a good and organized game.”
Osh did not hide that he wants to play with the Netherlands the most, but the important factor is the presence of fans. The defender expressed hope that the fans will be able to watch the games in person.
“I would like to be able to enjoy the atmosphere of big football and big football in general. Everyone who plays at such a level not so often on a daily basis is very much looking forward to such games, ”added the defender, who was very eager to try his hand against England or Switzerland, where he is spending his third year.
Osh did not take part in the previous matches of the Latvian national team against Turkey, but they watched the matches from the sidelines as a fan.
“I think they were very high quality and good games in our performance. There was a draw in the game, there was a good counterattack. You could see that the Turks didn’t really know how to play against us. Our team worked with great dedication, threw under the balls to win points. And winning points in Turkey in the presence of tens of thousands of spectators against players who play in the Top-5 championships on a daily basis is a good indicator. I think this positivism should be transferred to this cycle as well, ”Osh was full of motivation and faith.
Meanwhile, the game against Turkey was special for Ikauniekis, because on October 13, 2014, the midfielder at the age of 19 made his debut against this team in the ranks of the Latvian national team. He spent all 90 minutes on the field that day, helping Latvia to fight 1: 1 in the “Skonto” stadium.
“I remember the game quite vividly. It can be said that “Skonto” stadium was almost full at that time. In the end we could also pull out the victory. A good moment was for Kaspars Dubr after the standard situation. Did not meet [izraut uzvaru], but they were better in that game, dominated, but we got our draw, ”the midfielder remembered in the debut team.
The embarrassment was generally satisfied with the draw and expressed confidence that a maximum of six points should be won against the nominally weaker Gibraltar.
“We also got a team from the first basket, which is full of superstars who have always been in the world’s elite and fought for medals. Also in the middle baskets – the well-known Turks we all know, who we usually “bite” and take our points, the same Montenegro we played with very recently. True, its recent game is not comparable to what matches await us now. And also Norwegians who have new and talented players, ”Ikaunieks described the opponents a bit.
The midfielder pointed out that several players who have no experience against teams of this level have entered the Latvian national team, therefore matches are expected with special feelings.
“I remember the match in the Netherlands. There were, I think, about fifty thousand spectators. It’s a great atmosphere. These are memories that last a long time if you don’t play at that level on a daily basis. And such matches are an opportunity for everyone to prove themselves, to test their strength at that level, ”said the RFS player.
The beauty was convinced that Latvians could start the first game of the cycle at home against Montenegro with a victory, but in the next two duels with the Netherlands and Turkey, a much more difficult exam is already expected.
It has already been reported that the first match at home for the Latvian national team in the qualification tournament on March 24 is expected against Montenegro. Three days later, the guests are scheduled to meet with the Netherlands, but on March 30, Latvians will visit Turkey.
After that, the next match on September 1 in Riga is planned against Gibraltar, three days later the Norwegians will visit Latvia, but on September 7 the guests are expected to play a match against Montenegro. On October 8, the Dutch national team will be seen in Latvia, three days later also the Turkish national team, but on November 13 and 16, guests will have to meet with Norway and Gibraltar.
In the European area, the samples are divided into ten subgroups, five by five samples and five by six samples. Ten group winners will qualify for the World Cup final, but ten runners-up and two top UEFA Nations League teams will be in the “play-off” round, which will be outside the top two in the sub-groups.
In the elimination tournament, 12 teams will be divided into three “play-off” branches, where in March 2022 three more participants of the final tournament will be determined.
The final of the 2022 World Cup will take place in Qatar, and due to the hot weather, the tournament will be played in the winter from November 21 to December 18.
In 2022, Qatar will host the last World Cup final, with 32 teams participating. The 2026 tournament, hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, will feature 48 national teams.
Preparations for the World Cup final have not been without incidents, for example, the organizers are accused of corruption in order to obtain the right to organize the most ambitious sporting event in four years. Qatar has also received criticism from human rights organizations about poor labor conditions.
The current world champion is France, which beat Croatia 4: 2 in the final in Russia. Belgium took the third place, beating England 2: 0.
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