For the first time in its history, Latvia qualified for the FIBA World Cup. They are placed in the most difficult group together with Canada and France.
In this article, learn more about the national team that is able to compete with everyone.
FIBA World Cup – Latvia: Previous editions and the best results of the national team
For the national team of Latvia, this will be the debut appearance at the World Cup. As for the Olympic Games, they can boast of the fact that they compete in 1936, before they became part of the Soviet Union.
FIBA World Cup – Latvia: Road to Mundobasket
The qualifiers for the World Cup was extremely successful for Latvia this time. They lost only one of the 12 games played, and that was against Serbia by 101:100.
They outplayed Greece and Turkey twice, while the Serbian national team was also defeated during the second game in Riga. And all this was achieved without the main star of the national team.
FIBA World Cup – Latvia: Roster and focus on those who are expected the most
Kristaps Porzingis has stated on several occasions that he can’t wait to play in the World Cup. Behind him is a season where he collected 63 appearances in the NBA. And this time he was extremely efficient with 23.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
In two recorded appearances in the national jersey during the qualifiers, Porzingis recorded monstrous figures of 25.5 points and 14 rebounds on average. The problem could only be the foot injury he suffered during the preparation period.
The driving force of this national team are Bertans brothers: Davis and Dairis.
For the Dallas Mavericks, Davis Bertans made 45 appearances where he spent an average of about 10 minutes on the court. This was not his best season, as evidenced by 4.5 points on average. The World Cup as a global spectacle is the ideal stage to regain inspiration and confidence.
Dairis Bertans recorded almost seven points per game in the previous season at Betis. He, Andrejs Grazulis and Klavs Cavars were the only ones to play all the games during the qualifiers. Dairis spent 24 minutes on the floor with a performance of 10 points and two rebounds and assists.
With 10 games played and 15.6 points and four assists on average, Rihard Lomasz marked the qualifiers, but his name is not on the list of passengers for Mundobasket.
That’s why there is Roland Smits, who has a great season in Zalgiris and will be one of the key individuals for Latvia. Veteran Jannis Timma also brings a lot of experience with 14 points, 5.5 rebounds and three rebounds per game.
FIBA World Cup – Latvia: More about head coach – Luca Banchi
Luca Banchi became the head coach of the Latvian national team in 2021. At the age of 57, he has rich coaching experience, and he started working in this job in 1985 as an assistant in lower-class clubs.
Looking at the most important clubs in Italy, he worked as head coach in Montepaschi Siena and Olimpia Milano. With the team from the city of fashion, he won two Series A, as well as one national cup.
As the head of Lokomotiva Kuban in 2019, he won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. He spent the last season on the bench of the French club Strasbourg.
![FIBA World Cup Preview Latvia Luca Banchi](https://basketballsphere.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/FIBA-Svetsko-prvenstvo-Luca-Banchi.png)
FIBA World Cup – Latvia: Expectations
Latvia is in Group H, along with Canada, France and Lebanon. It is the toughest group in the tournament.
France has continuity of work. At the last two championships, they won two bronze medals. They arrive with a roster where only one of the 12 players has no NBA or EuroLeague experience.
On paper, Canada has put together the best team in its history. Lebanon overcame all obstacles in the qualifiers and come to the competition with a huge amount of confidence. It is in their favor that they have nothing to lose, and such teams can be extremely dangerous.
What Latvia can do here depends a lot on them. Offensively, it is more than decent and they can destroy any opponents from downtown. Banchi’s team also showed that they can play defense at a high level against Greece and Serbia.
The World Cup will be a new experience for them. Carried by positive energy and euphoria, will they be able to make a breakthrough or burn out in their own desires?