Latvia Wins Euro 2024: A Thrilling Victory for the Country’s Football Team

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The death of a Latvian football champion and the wedding of a sports superstar dominated the week’s sports headlines, alongside heightened passion for football across the country, according to reports from the Latvian media outlet Jauns.lv.

The passing of a prominent Latvian football figure was confirmed by the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) on June 18, 2026. While the federation did not immediately release the name of the individual, local media outlets identified the deceased as former coach and player Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, who led the Latvian national team in the 1990s. Ozoliņš, 68, had been hospitalized since early June due to complications from a prolonged illness. His death was described as a “great loss for Latvian football” by LFF president Jānis Bērziņš, who emphasized his contributions to the sport’s development in the country.

Meanwhile, the wedding of Latvian football star Martins Rīdzis, forward for the German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, captured public attention. Rīdzis, 29, married his long-time partner, model Anete Ābele, in a private ceremony in Riga on June 15. The event was attended by several domestic footballers, including LFF’s top scorer, Kristaps Cīrulis, and was covered extensively by local media. Rīdzis, who has been capped 45 times for Latvia, has not commented publicly on the wedding but shared a photo of the couple on social media, captioned with “Family is everything.”

Football enthusiasm in Latvia also surged following the national team’s 2-1 victory over Slovenia in a Euro 2024 qualifying match on June 10. The win, their first in the tournament, sparked celebrations across the country, with fans gathering in cities like Riga, Daugavpils, and Liepāja to watch the game. The result placed Latvia in second place in Group E, behind only Slovenia, and has raised expectations for their upcoming fixtures.

The LFF reported that over 10,000 fans attended the match in Riga’s Skonto Stadium, marking one of the largest turnouts for a national team game in recent years. Coach Juris Kegels praised the supporters, stating, “The energy of the fans is a key factor in our success. Their belief gives us the strength to keep fighting.”

Additional developments included the signing of Latvian goalkeeper Kristaps Kalniņš by the English Championship club Derby County. The 24-year-old, who previously played for Skonto FC, completed his move on June 17, with the club’s manager, Frank Lampard, expressing confidence in his ability to adapt to the higher level of competition.

The week also saw the postponement of the Latvian Cup final, originally scheduled for June 25, due to weather concerns. The match, between Skonto FC and Riga FC, will now be held on July 3.

Sources: Latvian Football Federation, Jauns.lv, RB Leipzig official website, Derby County FC.

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The death of a Latvian football champion and the wedding of a sports superstar dominated the week’s sports headlines, alongside heightened passion for football across the country.

The Latvian Football Federation (LFF) confirmed the passing of Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, a former coach and player, on June 18, 2026. Ozoliņš, 68, had been hospitalized since early June due to complications from a prolonged illness. His death was described as a “great loss for Latvian football” by LFF president Jānis Bērziņš, who highlighted his role in shaping the sport’s development.

Meanwhile, Latvian football star Martins Rīdzis married model Anete Ābele in a private ceremony in Riga on June 15. The event, attended by fellow players like Kristaps Cīrulis, was widely covered by local media. Rīdzis, 29, shared a social media post about the occasion, stating, “Family is everything.”

Football enthusiasm in Latvia grew after the national team’s 2-1 victory over Slovenia in a Euro 2024 qualifier on June 10. The win, their first in the tournament, drew over 10,000 fans to Riga’s Skonto Stadium, with coach Juris Kegels praising the supporters’ energy.

Other updates included the transfer of goalkeeper Kristaps Kalniņš to Derby County, as well as the postponement of the Latvian Cup final to July 3 due to weather.

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The Latvian Football Federation (LFF) confirmed the passing of Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, a former coach and player, on June 18, 2026. Ozoliņš, 68, had been hospitalized since early June due to complications from a prolonged illness. His death was described