A convincing victory for Latvia in the first match of the B division of the European U-18 Championship handball in Riga / Diena

Latvia beat their peers from Kosovo with 37:17 (19:6).

For the home team, Valdis Kalniņš scored five goals in eight shots, while Emīls Vilsons, Oskars Bisinieks (in four shots), Yevgeniis Rogonovs and Leno Daniels Kazlovskis scored four goals each, while 14 handball players scored at least one goal.

Altins Cacajs scored six goals in 12 shots for the guests.

“The team started today’s game with a very good defense and that was the basis of the victory – the goalkeepers and our defense. We are still looking for our game. Tomorrow against the Turks will definitely be a much more difficult game, so we need an even better mood and dedication, then we can think about victory,” the Latvian Handball Federation (LHF) quotes national team head coach Arnold Straume as saying.

The national team of Latvia plays in group A together with North Macedonia, Turkey and Kosovo, while in group B the national teams of Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium play. On Monday, North Macedonia defeated Turkey with 34:19, and Switzerland defeated Belgium with 39:18.

The second match for the Latvian national team will be on Tuesday, at 16:00, against Turkey, while the final subgroup match is scheduled for Thursday, at 16:00, against North Macedonia. The semifinals of the tournament will be held on August 13, while the fight for medals will take place on August 14.

The Latvian U-18 national team spent the preparatory phase in Murjāni and also played four test matches, losing to Estonia 25:31 and 22:33 in the first two of them.

Raul Serafimovic is not in the squad due to a knee injury. Ralf Brivulis is also injured. It is not known whether he will be able to play, so Mārtiņš Misulis was called up to the national team. In addition, a large part of the team got sick with a virus and could not participate in training, but now the players have already recovered.

The Latvian U-18 national team is led by coach Arnolds Straume, who is assisted by Ivars Lācis.

The tournament “Rimi” in the Olympic Center takes place from August 8 to August 14, and the national teams of Kosovo, North Macedonia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Turkey, Switzerland and Latvia participate in it.

Meanwhile, Europe’s 16 best U-18 teams are playing in Montenegro, where the championship in the elite group will take place from August 4 to August 14.

The composition of the Latvian U-18 handball team for the B division tournament of the European Championship:

goalkeepers – Niks Lagzda, Dāvids Pauls (both – MSG), Ilvars Reinhold (“Ulbroka”);

field players – Elgar Kushners (“Ludza NSS”), Rihards Bisters, Gustavs Batņa (both – “Ogre”), Mārtiņš Gailītis (“Aizkraukles NS”), Kristers Suharevs, Rudolf Elfert, Oskars Bisenieks (all – Dobeles “Tenax”) , Emīls Vilsons, Yevgenijs Rogonovs, Andris Vidovskis, Leno Daniels Kazlovskis, Andijs Šnepsts, Valdis Kalniņš, Andris Bors, Mārtiņš Misulis (all – MSG), Ralfs Brīvulis (“Salaspils SS”).

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