<p>In Part 1, Lee sits down with Virslīga President Maksims Krivunecs in Riga for an inside look at the Latvian football landscape. What is Latvia’s unique claim to fame within the 55 UEFA countries? Why have five of the country’s nine different champions since independence gone out of business? What does the average Virslīga footballer earn per month? And why is he in favour of setting up a Baltic League along with Lithuania and Estonia?</p><p>In Part 2, Lee returns to the virtual studio to dissect Maksim’s grand plan for a Baltic League and tell Paul all about the live experience at the Latvian Cup final. What format for the Baltic League take and how would the three stages of the competition work? What is the likelihood of it ever happening? Why was the Skonto Stadium in Riga only 14% full for the big match? And what exactly is the strange relationship between Riga FC and Auda FK?</p><p>*There is NO official proof on paper of an official relationship between Riga FC and Auda FK. Our source regarding their curious connection is Baltic Football News: <a href="balticfootballnews.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">balticfootballnews.com</a></p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 – Intro</p><p>01:10 – The good and bad of Latvian football</p><p>04:23 – The vanishing champion problem</p><p>12:11 – Memorable European nights</p><p>20:05 – The Baltic League grand plan</p><p>28:08 – Format, strengths &amp; weaknesses</p><p>37:37 – The 2025 Latvian Cup final</p><p>47:20 – On The Spot</p>

The Sweeper

Lee Wingate and Paul Watson

Latvia: The Baltic League grand plan, vanishing champions & a final between friends

OCT 31, 202549 MIN
The Sweeper

Latvia: The Baltic League grand plan, vanishing champions & a final between friends

OCT 31, 202549 MIN

Description

<p>In Part 1, Lee sits down with Virslīga President Maksims Krivunecs in Riga for an inside look at the Latvian football landscape. What is Latvia’s unique claim to fame within the 55 UEFA countries? Why have five of the country’s nine different champions since independence gone out of business? What does the average Virslīga footballer earn per month? And why is he in favour of setting up a Baltic League along with Lithuania and Estonia?</p><p>In Part 2, Lee returns to the virtual studio to dissect Maksim’s grand plan for a Baltic League and tell Paul all about the live experience at the Latvian Cup final. What format for the Baltic League take and how would the three stages of the competition work? What is the likelihood of it ever happening? Why was the Skonto Stadium in Riga only 14% full for the big match? And what exactly is the strange relationship between Riga FC and Auda FK?</p><p>*There is NO official proof on paper of an official relationship between Riga FC and Auda FK. Our source regarding their curious connection is Baltic Football News: <a href="balticfootballnews.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">balticfootballnews.com</a></p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 – Intro</p><p>01:10 – The good and bad of Latvian football</p><p>04:23 – The vanishing champion problem</p><p>12:11 – Memorable European nights</p><p>20:05 – The Baltic League grand plan</p><p>28:08 – Format, strengths &amp; weaknesses</p><p>37:37 – The 2025 Latvian Cup final</p><p>47:20 – On The Spot</p>