Following his appointment, Gilis emphasized the challenge of assembling a team from scratch, meeting with potential players, and ensuring that those selected prioritized national pride above all else.

By this time, the squad's core included Skonto FC players such as Vitālijs Astafjevs, Igors Stepanovs, Marians Pahars, and Andrejs Štolcers.

A notable figure in the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) delegation was Vadims Ulbergs, who had witnessed the previous match between Latvia and Romania in 1937, a 0–0 draw at the ASK Stadium in Riga.

The match in Bucharest attracted significant media attention, with representatives from all teams in the upcoming qualification cycle present, including the Belgian coach Paul van Himst.

The game was hosted at the Complexul Sportiv Steaua, referred to as the "Temple of Romanian Football," built under the direction of one of Nicolae Ceaușescu's sons and maintained by the army.

Latvia’s head coach, Jānis Gilis, opted to trust younger players and implemented a tactical scheme with two free defenders, placing additional pressure on the midfielders and forwards.

The match began with a costly mistake when goalkeeper Raimonds Laizāns slipped while preparing to save a 30-meter shot from Pavel Badea, allowing the ball to soar into the net.

Latvia had an opportunity to equalize when Aivars Drupass, assisted by Jurijs Popkovs, made a sharp strike from six meters, but Romania’s goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea reacted brilliantly.

While the team showed resilience, Gilis expressed disappointment with some players, including Vitālijs Teplovs and Aivars Drupass, who played with a minor injury.

Under Starkovs' leadership, Latvia finished the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification cycle with three narrow defeats against group favorites, showcasing the team's growing competitiveness.

Māris Verpakovskis emerged as the team's new offensive leader, replacing injury-plagued Marians Pahars, while veteran striker Vīts Rimkus returned to the squad.

The key players during this period included Verpakovskis, captain Vitālijs Astafjevs, midfielders Juris Laizāns and Andrejs Rubins, defenders Mihails Zemļinskis and Igors Stepanovs, and goalkeeper Aleksandrs Koliņko.

The campaign marked a golden era for Latvian football, with Starkovs' strategic leadership and Verpakovskis' outstanding form bringing the team to unprecedented heights.

This period remains a cornerstone in Latvian football history, demonstrating the team’s ability to compete on the European stage and inspiring future generations.

After Latvia's historic success at UEFA Euro 2004, Aleksandrs Starkovs remained at the helm of the national team, but subsequent results failed to meet the high expectations set during the golden era.

The team faced challenges in maintaining consistency, and the departure of key players like Māris Verpakovskis and Mihails Zemļinskis from their peak form further weakened the squad.

Latvia’s campaign for the 2008 UEFA European Championship began in a group featuring Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Northern Ireland, and Liechtenstein.

During his second tenure, Starkovs aimed to rebuild the team by integrating younger players while relying on experienced veterans like Vitālijs Astafjevs and Māris Verpakovskis to provide leadership.

While Latvia did not achieve the same level of success as during the early 2000s, Starkovs' influence helped maintain competitiveness and ensured that the team remained a respected opponent in international football.

His second term further solidified Starkovs’ legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of Latvian football, showcasing his dedication and impact on the national team’s development.

From September 2010 to October 2011, Latvia competed in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualification tournament, drawn into Group F with Greece, Croatia, Israel, Georgia, and Malta.

Following the Bosnia defeat, there were calls within the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) to dismiss head coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, but the board voted against it.

After Starkovs' resignation, former national team player Marians Pahars was appointed as head coach with a contract extending until the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification cycle.

Marians Pahars’ tenure as head coach of the Latvian national football team began with a friendly match against Estonia, which ended in a 1–1 draw.

Starkovs' return saw a series of disappointing results, with the sole victory being a 1–0 win against Andorra on October 10 in the final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

This period highlighted Latvia’s struggles on the international stage, with fleeting moments of success overshadowed by poor performances and instability at the managerial level.

Amid political uncertainty within the Latvian Football Federation (LFF), which was briefly without a president, the regular rotation of head coaches seemed unlikely to yield a long-term solution.

The sustained public and media pressure eventually led to the termination of Kazakevičs’ contract, bringing an end to his tenure as head coach.

Win Draw Loss Fixture The following players were called up for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C matches against North Macedonia and Armenia on 14 and 17 November 2024.

RET Retired from national team INJ Injured player WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue As of 17 November 2024 after match against  Armenia.