Nobody watches football in this country

[@silursmq5511]

As a Latvian, I've always felt a bit saddened that football takes a backseat compared to our other sports, so I appreciate any recognition that our tiny football system gets. After all, nothing unites the world as much as football. Thank you for this insightful video, and let's cross our fingers for a richer and more developed footballing culture here in Latvia and the Baltics!

[@moekanon1249]

Maybe in your country, basketball or ice hockey are more popular?

[@mrtiesthatbind]

It's surprsing despite Latvia made it to the Euro 2004 with players like Maris Verpakovskis

[@WilkSzary0]

As a Latvian, I've always felt so happy that football takes a backseat compared to our other sports. Thanks Latvia that you are not like everyone else!

[@ezandman6804]

Dude! Be happy. My team (from the netherlands) has a horrible center forward from Lithuania. Don't tell me your Latvian football is worse than Lithuanian! It can't be.

[@NB-or8rs]

if that can make you a bit happy, just know that somewhere there is a random french guy who watched Riga - Valmiera last year and watched most of latvian games in the european qualifiers every year. (Too bad for Valmiera i really thought they'd beat Tirana)

[@Nikolazy133]

Its really enjoyable to watch someone being so extremly passionate about football. And you present it really well with a deep level of empathy. Your video from Norway with Vålerenga vs Lillestrøm was actually the whipping point for me to start actively caring more about Norwegian football again. And for that, i thank you

[@r.davidsen]

That's the game that made me discover this channel too! : )

[@JoP444]

That is great to hear 😊 It can be difficult for us in smaller leagues but I wouldn't change it. You have some great talents in Norway. I am a Scottish Celtic fan and Bodo Glimpt absolutely thrashed us 😂 They were superb & our team had only been together a few months but still Bodo played us off the park . We badly need investment in Scottish football to enable smaller clubs to be more competitive. Money has ruined the game. I hope you continue to enjoy your football 👍💚🍀

[@VigoJ]

As a Latvian this was a very interesting video. Despite the small population size there's talent in Latvia, our Ice Hockey national team got 3rd this year in the IIHF, you should check out images of the welcome we had for the players, when we have small successes we really cherish them.

[@rinketic]

I am not even Latvian, and it was bonkers. Currently, I live in Riga 😊. I am also trying to get tickets for the Conference League game

[@thomasjohnson2862]

What sort of attendances are there at ice hockey and basketball games in Latvia?

[@rinketic]

@thomasjohnson2862 I couldn't afford to watch any of the games inside. I got footage from a friend. But outside the arena, it was full of people every time! (Sorry can't really answer your question)

[@himhim3344]

Wasn't Arturs Irbe Latvian? He played in the NHL

[@zakwan10]

Canadian here and as ice hockey is a religion here and I can tell you, for such a small nation, the number of NHL players you have produced is unbelievable, Sandus Ozolnish and Arturs Irbe come to mind.

[@lesbianseagul621]

Latvia were in the Euro2004 in Portugal, amazing achievement for that country - they were a tough team to play in late 90s early 2000s. Never really built on the success.

[@TES-541]

As someone from America who’s gotten into the sport recently, your channel is really insightful. Haven’t found another channel quite like it. Thanks for the work you do!!!

[@stuntpeggnieve]

Thank you so much for this, how amazing!!

[@heribertfassbender5759]

drop the s-bomb! :D

[@grimacemcdonald1]

Avoided the word ‘football’ skilfully there

[@JoP444]

​@uncleAlbert542🤡

[@GNMbg]

@uncleAlbert542 she is with me, why ?

[@andrephx90]

Riga FC actually played my hometown club, Gil Vicente from Portugal! Feel like I shouldn´t have missed this away day and this video confirms it. Lovely place!

[@AAlion15]

Back to back days with stunt pegg bangers. What a treat

[@IrishShea]

Fascinating video, as an Irishman living in Lithuania, the lack of support for the local game in all three Baltic states is the same, poor at best, but then the basketball arena be rocking.

[@adamkorsfeldt7328]

When there is big matches then there could be big crowds, but not that often.

[@Osaremwinda]

She was in latvia not Lithuania

[@IrishShea]

@@Osaremwinda Read the post again 👌

[@georgeseymour8280]

Ice hockey is rated higher in Latvia than football. As a side mission why not try out some British ice hockey (EIHL and NIHL) action when the season starts in September?

[@JC1986JC]

Nieve - football fan from Australia here. My parents originate from Poland. This is also my first ever KZbin comment. But I felt compelled to leave you a comment and say thank you for sharing your adventures. Videos like the above really open our eyes up to how truly global football is and its great capacity to connect us all. Thank you and all the best! 🌏🌎🌍

[@stuntpeggnieve]

Oh wow. I’ve just seen this comment. Thank you so much. I’m actually in Poland this weekend to watch a match, excited for you to hopefully see it. I have family in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, one day I’d love to visit.

[@tristantristan4733]

Big Latvian immigration to Australia after WW II. Great to see this beautiful country highlighted. Great comments from the coach.

[@wazza7575]

​@OfficialStuntPegg please come. We would love to have you. Our football is also different....it is played in sometimes in 35-40°C temperatures!

[@davyebbers8277]

Loved your video yet again! Like you said in all the bigger leagues it's all about the names like Leo Messi or Ronaldo but these families have ther own hero's on the field that they look forward to seeing weekly, thankyou for sharing countries in football that we don't usually hear much about😁

[@masonswindall2085]

Love your vids. As an American, its awesome to see how the sport is worldwide and how different countries experience it.

[@CheekandBluster]

Well done Nieve, you're turning out really interesting vlogs with excellent insight. Your genunine passion for the growth of the game in all countries is infectious. Keep up the great work.

[@123bwlch]

Latvia did qualify for Euros 2004.

[@uriustosh]

Reminds of Lithuania. Usually about few hundred turn up for league matches in A Lyga. Still no national stadium in Vilnius but at least Kaunas renovated to 15k.

[@thacrypt223]

I started watching more local Norwegian games because of this channel! What an amazing find!

[@argylemad]

Wow Nieve, you got to speak with Riga's manager!! Your content has gone to another level these last few months 👏 Please visit more smaller nations, it's great to get an insight into their footballing culture. P.s. great shot at 4:42 with the rainbow in the background 🌈

[@thomasjohnson2862]

I’d have liked to have heard more from the Riga manager, and the rest of the video could have easily been 20 minutes of great content

[@stuntpeggnieve]

@@thomasjohnson2862you are right on this, I would like to increase the length of my videos moving forward, I’ve always taken a short snappy approach but when I’m really digging deep on some interesting stories, it can’t hurt to slow it down

[@stuntpeggnieve]

Thank you so much! I absolutely shall! Hey I still haven’t had a visit to argyle, that could be on the cards this season, I really want to see home park.

[@argylemad]

@@stuntpeggnieve Yeah, we've a lovely stadium with the most kind hearted fans. I truly recommend that you do visit this season, if you're struggling for a ticket then do get in touch, as i'm a member 🤟 But if you have the money or contacts, the VIP experience is absolutely incredible!

[@JoP444]

Definitely 👍 As soon as I saw the rainbow 🌈 I knew that Riga would win

[@cricketbat09]

More great output. Your brief vlogs deliver so much informative and entertaining content. Quality journalism.

[@waynehough13]

so cool to see a video on Latvian football. it’s a league I never had any interest in until I went to Riga and there happened to be a game on that weekend between Metta and Ventspils. that was in 2019 and I’ve followed Metta ever since, they’re usually towards the bottom of the league though they are currently mid table this season

[@derosabike]

You show such great passion and your sense of humour is so spot on. Thank you ⚽🔴🔵

[@janmeyer272]

I enjoy seeing the passion and love in your eyes - I actually enjoy your content - it's really empathetic 💙

[@stuntpeggnieve]

💙thank you so much

[@luc0601]

I'm Dutch and one of my "football dreams" is to fly to Latvia and see a game of Valmiera, I don't know why but I simply fell in love with the team. So I'm planning to go in the summer of 2024, I'm so excited!

[@dictionarypictionary9872]

I think mine would be Olympiakos vs Panatheon Aikos I don't know why.

[@SupraStar29]

come for the 2nd leg of the CL game!

[@krissveismanis990]

Did You go? 🙂

[@johnsantos6480]

I'm from USA and I've been following your channel for years. There isn't another channel like it, I love your content and your unique perspective on football (yes I said football, not soccer) ! Keep up the fantastic work beautiful lady!

[@abdulrahmanDr3]

Back to back vlogs in just less than 2 days🔥 and it’s another great video as always 🙏🏻

[@JoP444]

Thanks for this video. Really interesting.I love to see fans enjoying their football. It's difficult in smaller countries unfortunately without proper investment . Money has ruined the game so it's nice to see more fans attending and hopefully it just grows & grows! Great content and sense of humour 👌 💚

[@krdchacon3263]

Love your analysis on the meaning (and economics) of the sport. Keep it up!!!

[@derbengel0759]

Come to Rot Weiss Essen and you can see people with passion for this beautiful game!

[@Messermachine]

Wow Nieve, did not expect you to make it all the way to Latvia, even less so at a game I attended. Happy to see I've made it into your vid. Excellent video and cheers for showing our country and league. :)

[@thomasjohnson2862]

You would have certainly gotten a surprise if you had seen her in the stadium, which could have possibly happened but sadly didn't.

[@olevet75]

there was a significant spike of popularity of football in Latvia in 2004, when they made it to Euro 2004 championship

[@diha9004]

As a Latvian I can tell one of the reasons why nobody watches football is that when someone wants to own a club in the city they just make a new one instead of investig in existing club. Another reason is that football is traditionally "russian" sport so parents prefer sending their kids to basketball or hockey if they are rich.

[@EastFame]

2 reasons: 1. the level of footblall is not something you would enjoy relative to world top clubs, so the level is something similar to German or English 2 levels below Top league. 2. so if the level is low, the only motivation would be to go and cheer for victory for your own club. But Latvia is a small country with one city and multiple towns. So we don't feel any rivalry with one another, I absolutely don't care which Latvian club will win the local championship. The only thing that matter to us, is that our National team has success in the world, because it is our best chance to become recognizable. This is like "we against the world" mentality, not "we against each other". So the only time we come together in bigger number to watch club football, if our club is playing against some other country's club, because in such rivalry this club is like our National team. We don't care which specific club it is, as long it is Latvian. Also, why there are no tens of thousands attending even such games, because we already know that realistically we will not get far and loss is much more likely than win. And even after any surprising club's win in international stage we have no ground or hope to believe that it will bring us to the next stage.

[@Sparxsbtw]

football is for npcs

[@markdixon3632]

Another quality video, love how you travel around watching random games and showing us the videos, brilliant work once again, fair play to you

[@aubreyadams7884]

Seems like Latvia has the same problem (and crowds) as the Australian A-League, other sports dominate media coverage (and hence the money and fans) everywhere. And had to smile, I have caught that train service to and from Sandwell & Dudley a few times over the years when I've visited the UK.

[@jonstewart94]

Very interesting! Hope football continues to grow in Latvia. Such a beautiful country and culture. Love your content as always and greetings from St. Louis, Missouri.

[@wongnaichungrd]

New to your channel and I really enjoy your take on the weird and wonderful sides of all things football. Keep up the great work and greetings from down under.

[@tt99football56]

Another great video I enjoy the content, especially the respect & time you give to Scottish Football.

[@jakubpytko5551]

Amazing vlog. This is the best channel of football. You are incredible.

[@SongBillong]

Bloody interesting stuff, and your conclusion was spot on! It's great that you cover this sort of thing

[@birjarq]

Unexpected to see Kazakstan matches at 0:44, maybe Nieve will consider attending our national team game as they are competing well so far for euro 2024 spot.

[@sc1788]

I was in Riga not long ago. A lot of them seem to love ice hockey. It was a bloody lovely city though. And incredibly friendly.

[@cli260]

I'm travelling to Riga in one month time and I'm very excited about the trip. Then, I'm going to Tallinn and Helsinki, where I expect to see an ice hockey match. Basically, I'd love to lead a similar lifestyle to yours, with travelling across Europe to see great hockey matches (since it's my thing). So thank you for your videos and vlogs, it's so cool to see you going all those places and taking as much as you can from them.

[@Bandnamehere]

@4:20 Just spit my drink all over my laptop thanks for that lmaoooo

[@julianlineham]

Fantastic, love seeing your travel vids for footie. What a fabulous city.

[@horsehollerer]

Ohhhhh sorry, I thought you were still in Scotland from the title 🤣

[@MatiuPirihimana]

I saw the title and assumed you were here in New Zealand for the world cup.😂

[@BrianPolluxPlayz]

Love your vids a lot. Btw if you really wanna experience a country where nobody watches football, I welcome you to my hometown Taiwan. Literally not a single person cares about football here. Our 1st division football league isn't even pro and I'm not sure if more than 30 fans watch the league matches live.

[@narkysharky2135]

Ooof I love that Tears for Fears in the intro

[@mattjamesmusicyork]

Just had this channel recommended to me, and I'm very pleased I clicked as this is brilliant stuff! Love your deadpan style, and I really like that you're highlighting the less mainstream/commercial aspects of the game. You've got a new subscriber here :)

[@steviemick8074]

Another excellent video Nieve. It looked a bit warmer than when I was in Riga, years ago -27 and couldn't resist joining the locals walking across the frozen River Daugava. Quite close to the bridge that leads to the Freedom Monument. Lovely city , but I didn't manage to catch any football. I'd love to return someday.

[@TheLondonForever00]

Nieve loves her 80s music! Great video, Latvian football seems like a great atmosphere. Shame it's the second of their national sports. How much was the gate entrance?

[@krissveismanis990]

The third honestly after basketball and ice hockey.

[@malcolmhuckvale3763]

Brilliant and informative, as always

[@SuperFredc]

I am surprised that a big broadcaster hasn`t offered you a contract as yet. Fantastic content for the true fan and very eye opening.

[@casinodelonge]

I think the way to grow the game in smaller countries is to band together, so in Ireland and Scotland have a Celtic League, or maybe Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia could form a Baltic League..?

[@kajakkabel5255]

I was on Riga FC about 3 weekes ago and the most thing I was shocked about was that visitors supporters aren't attacking and insluting by Riga FC supporters (I am from Poland). One day later I was at Latvian secound division and there were playing on very small stadium and on the game was about 50 people. ( Sorry for my English)

[@Lucaseditzz43]

As a Latvian, I love football but it’s all ways disappointing that there aren’t much people there :( Edit: sorry about my bad English I am a Latvian speaker

[@sdeepj]

Latvia is a hockey country. There a number of Latvians in the NHL, like Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets. This year, they won the Bronze medal in the World Championships, and the country went wild. They beat Canada in the group stages and Sweden in the Bronze Medal game; that’s like beating Brazil and Germany in football.

[@dreamthedream8929]

They lost twice to Canada in that championship, they could never beat them. They have only beaten Canada once. It's too powerful of a country but they can play very closely and evenly matched with them when they are playing well

[@ppolow]

As a canadian, ive admired how much Latvia cares for their country in tournaments like the World Hockey Championship placing third and having a massive parade as compared to our reaction winning countless gold medals almost as a novelty, though i guess it speaks that unless it’s the Olympics we love our NHL teams much more (go leafs go 🥲) Overall I’d love to see more passion all around our game including better atmospheres in NHL games

[@JurisMazurs]

Kāda tev vēl nah..j hokeja zeme, Latvija ir stabila hokeja viduvējība.

[@muttley523]

Fascinating seems like a lovely place and lovely people

[@MyLifeInAHole]

The Jamie xx sound cuts were a welcome surprise

[@robbysfootyfocus]

Love the exposure of a smaller leauge 🙌 more videos like this please 🙏

[@WooshaBaloo]

The Mighty Bees got a mention! Love from Australia. ❤️🇦🇺

[@Blitzz]

half a million views if not 100k + per video by the end of the year from you, very well produced and thought out videos :)

[@luisplaza4628]

Latvia were in the Euro's a while back. Yup just checked it they were in The European Championships Portugal 2004. Fair play. Lithuania or Estonia have not achieved this. Lithuania is a big basketball country.

[@stanislavhadzhiev187]

Come and watch one of the bulgarian derby games. You'll enjoy it.

[@johngreenhorn8853]

OMG that train in Latvia doesn't half get about,stopping at all the English stations.

[@etiawneb]

When I went last season (vs Hearts), the locals say that the European games are always popular. It was sold out at the national stadium. They said it helps the tourist industry and love it when the away fans come to the city.

[@GDogLFC]

Another unique vlog Nieve covering corners of europe inc UK that no one else thinks off. Superb as always.

[@Spotlight77-i1b]

Riga is an absolutely gorgeous city and I love to see football playing a respected and lovely role to make people happy. Love from Germany!

[@NateMegOfficial]

American who’s fallen for Latvian football via Football Manager, love seeing these clubs IRL (we obvs don’t get the matches over here). Keep doing what you do, and Come On SUPERNOVA ;) 🇱🇻

[@ElmundotheGreat]

Knew you were cool Bram Van on tha vid, thanks for the piece on Bury!!!!!

[@ohbahsan]

this channel has the best background music

[@marcosdeto9409]

Of course your videos are great, but your music selection is flawless

[@stuntpeggnieve]

That is the best complement I could possibly receive. Music is so important to me

[@marcosdeto9409]

@@stuntpeggnieve yes. It shows.

[@JoP444]

​@@stuntpeggnieveFootie & music is everything 🙌 💚

[@jessicarose2178]

Chelsea should sign that kid at 2:33

[@TheKlakmens]

ManUtd as well :) And I'm a United fan from Latvia lol

[@Rab_Daddy]

You need to come to a USL game - Monterey Bay FC. Frank Yallop is the gaffer.

[@Plymonk666]

The music already on this is perfect 1:13

[@alsunpilsut]

Reminds me of my home country, Finland 😅. Unfortunately. People here only follow the national team. We get very small crowds in the Veikkausliiga which is our biggest league. Some more in Helsinki than other cities but much less than in Sweden for example.

[@markshipman7031]

Excellent video...as usual. Keep up your great work

[@mpld1979]

I love your content. Keep up the great work.

[@davidfredri8670]

Bit of the twang near the start of the video big fan 🎶

[@juliusdaujotas]

I'm Lithuanian and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Latvians see football as a mainly russian driven sport (both owners and supporters), so they feel a bit cold because of that. There's quite a segregation of the communities, and ethnic Latvians support more ice hokey and basketball, whereas ethnic Russians tend to support football.

[@piggyraccoon5464]

Yes, can agree, i was discouraged to play football because of Russian language. Every coach here was Russian or Ukrainian. I felt very disconnected. Almost no Latvian coaches at all.

[@Luonguyen457]

​@@piggyraccoon5464what is Aleksandr kolinko , Maris verpakovskis , and Igor semjonovs ethnicity ? I remember them in euro 2004.

[@Sane8388]

​@@Luonguyen457based on last name first is defo ukrainian and third russian

[@Luonguyen457]

@@Sane8388 that's cool bro , Decent era of Latvian football (euro 2004) .

[@lucianboar3489]

​@@Luonguyen457they put an s at the end of Slavic first names in Latvia, so if you discount that it's clear they're Eastern Slavic names.

[@jamiecooper4813]

I was at the Skonto Stadium last week for the Latvian cup semi final. It was my first football match outside of the UK and i thoroughly enjoyed it. The staff in the stadium were great and helpful. I guess there was only 4-500 spectators but it was really enjoyable.

[@gludeklis]

Greetings from Latvia! Thanks for stopping by.

[@PIE_MAN2]

I remember my team (Celtic) played Riga in a champions league qualifier they had a lovely away kit to be fair

[@JoP444]

HH 🍀

[@thepharcyde5239]

Pop down the Wolves Nieve. It's the same there😅😅😂😂😂...

[@est_esto3059]

i recommend estonian football Levadia vs Flora Its the biggest derby in estonia

[@ulfurkarlsson5885]

Had many art exhibitions in Riga, I'm a Newcastle United fan and usually watch they're games in pub in Iceland, I didn't even try watching football in Riga, it's a ice Hockey country, just like Lithuania and Estonia are Basketball countries

[@CorsicaCollector]

Love your videos and your editing/videography

[@emilsa488]

Coming to Latvia to watch football might be the most random thing you can do

[@viperswhip]

That kid at 2:35 grew up to become every striker I sign in Football Manager.

[@magnetoftevag1394]

Now there is one single thing you need to do. That is the home match between Brann - AZ in the conference leauge. Brann is the one single team you want to see in Norway, and Bergen is the one single city you want to experience. 31. August. Use your network to see if you can get a ticket :)

[@krischens2433]

Another huge problem with spectators is the lack of infrastructure. Often teams in the darker months have to play games at ~2pm during weekdays, because it gets dark and there are no floodlights in most of the stadiums. A lot of stadiums don't even have a roof, so bad weather also deters spectators. Finally, due to the cold weather most games in spring and fall are played on smaller artificial grass pitches, where there are barely any seats for specators.

[@Sorrythat111]

Nice to see you visit the Baltics, always enjoy your videos. Will you come to Estonia too?

[@mrxtomato]

you can't watch football in latvia because no matter what club you are supporting, it's going into liquidation sooner or later

[@lvsoccerfan8966]

Im rfs fan from latvia . Such a nice video . Saldy riga scored in last minutes to remain 1st place in virsliga

[@fahnub]

You always get to witness the best comebacks in the matches.

[@etreni]

Please add "Philippines Football League" that has free livestreaming in youtube and facebook platforms.

[@Thatguykieran07]

Loving it again nieve please never stop ❤

[@jarfish1968]

another lovely video! not bad for a Bolton fan x

[@deathkampdrone]

you should come and see my club play some time. third tier of danish pyramid. we have like 250 in attendance, but our history is amazing. for example we once had a nobel prize winner in goal. love love love your channel, always a pleasure to watch your uploads.

[@jamesdrummond7684]

0:54: Shout out Bran Van! Woohoo Canada!

[@piggyraccoon5464]

The first problem with Latvian football is that it is not really Latvian as you can see from the player surnames which are really russian. I do not want to support foreign players representing my country knowing that they even barely know a word in Latvian language.

[@JohnLovesSpain]

What a great video... thanks for posting 👍