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Baltic Cup (football)

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This article is about the men's association football tournament. For the women's tournament, see Women's Baltic Cup.
Baltic Cup
Founded1928
RegionBaltic (UEFA)
Number of teams3
(+ possible guests)
Current champions Latvia
(13th title)
Most successful team(s) Latvia
(13 titles)
2020 Baltic Cup

The Baltic Cup (Estonian: Balti turniir, Latvian: Baltijas kauss, Lithuanian: Baltijos taurė) is an international football competition contested by the national teams of the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Also Finland has participated as a guest twice. Though originally held annually the competition has been biennial since 2008, running on even-numbered years. It is one of the oldest football tournaments for national teams in Europe after the British Home Championship, and the oldest one still organized.[1]

History

As Estonia had unofficially declared itself the Baltic football champion in 1925, 1926 and 1927 based on matches played with Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland it was decided in 1928 to organize an official tournament. Though Poland and Finland were invited to join the tournament took place between the three Baltic nations.[2]

The tournament was intended to improve relations between the nations, but intrigues around the organization and budget questions worked against this noble goal. The hosts always did everything to wear out their competitors. In 1933 Lithuanian hosts surprised the officials with a tour to local brewery in the morning before Lithuania–Latvia match. Estonian newspaper Päevaleht reported that the Finnish referee for the match was really jolly, but did horrible job, mostly favouring Lithuanian hosts. The rules demanded that at least two wins were necessary to win the championship. Both Lithuania–Estonia and Lithuania–Latvia matches had been drawn but stopped due to darkness. In the team meeting Latvia demanded that Lithuania–Estonia match should be re-played first. Latvia was hoping for an advantage against tired Lithuanian team in their match. Lithuania and Estonia disagreed noting that Latvia had won their match against Estonia, so Latvian win against Lithuania would grant Latvians the championship and end the tournament. Consensus was not reached and Latvian team left the same day. The championship was not awarded.[2][3]

The feud led to the cancellation of the 1934 tournament, but the championship returned for 1935. Rules were changed so extra matches were now only held between leading teams if deciding champion.[4]

Results

Year Host Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
1928 Estonia Tallinn  Latvia  Estonia  Lithuania
1929 Latvia Riga  Estonia  Latvia  Lithuania
1930 Lithuania Kaunas  Lithuania  Latvia  Estonia
1931 Estonia Tallinn  Estonia (2)  Latvia  Lithuania
1932 Latvia Riga  Latvia (2)  Lithuania  Estonia
1933 Lithuania Kaunas Champion undecided due to disagreements over match times.
1934 Not organised due to disagreements over the 1933 competition.
1935 Estonia Tallinn  Lithuania (2)  Latvia  Estonia
1936 Latvia Riga  Latvia (3)  Estonia  Lithuania
1937 Lithuania Kaunas  Latvia (4)  Estonia  Lithuania
1938 Estonia Tallinn  Estonia (3)  Latvia  Lithuania
1939 Not organised due to strained sports-relations between Latvia and Lithuania after a controversial basketball game.
1940–1990 Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia occupied by Soviet Union.
1991 Lithuania Klaipėda  Lithuania (3)  Latvia  Estonia
1992 Latvia Liepāja  Lithuania (4)  Latvia  Estonia
1993 Estonia Pärnu  Latvia (5)  Estonia  Lithuania
1994 Lithuania Vilnius  Lithuania (5)  Latvia  Estonia
1995 Latvia Riga  Latvia (6)  Lithuania  Estonia
1996 Estonia Narva  Lithuania (6)  Estonia  Latvia
1997 Lithuania Vilnius  Lithuania (7)  Latvia  Estonia
1998 Latvia Liepāja
Estonia Valga
Estonia Viljandi		  Lithuania (8)  Latvia  Estonia
2001 Latvia Riga  Latvia (7)  Lithuania  Estonia
2003 Estonia Tallinn
Estonia Valga		  Latvia (8)  Lithuania  Estonia
2005 Lithuania Kaunas  Lithuania (9)  Latvia Estonia did not participate due to scheduling conflicts.[5]
2008 Latvia Jūrmala
Latvia Riga		  Latvia (9)  Lithuania  Estonia
2010 Lithuania Kaunas  Lithuania (10)  Latvia  Estonia
2012 Estonia Tartu
Estonia Võru		  Latvia (10)  Finland  Estonia  Lithuania
2014 Latvia Ventspils
Latvia Liepāja		  Latvia (11)  Lithuania  Finland  Estonia
2016 Lithuania Klaipėda
Latvia Liepāja
Estonia Tallinn		  Latvia (12)  Lithuania  Estonia
2018 Estonia Rakvere
Latvia Riga
Lithuania Vilnius		  Latvia (13)  Estonia  Lithuania
2020

Medal summary

As of 2018.[6]
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Latvia1312126
2 Lithuania107825
3 Estonia361524
4 Finland0112
Totals (4 entries)26262577

Statistics

As of 2018. Including the 1933 tournament, but excluding the reply match played on 5 September 1933.
Rank Team Apps Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Latvia 27 53 28 18 7 85 45 +40 102
2  Lithuania 27 53 19 12 22 75 88 −13 69
3  Estonia 26 52 10 13 29 54 83 −29 43
4  Finland 2 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 7

See also

References

  1. ^ "Eiropas vecākā starptautiskā futbola turnīra vēstures līkloči un ceļš pretim jaunai atzinībai". Latvijas futbols. Maijs 2014. Latvijas Futbola federācija. 2014-05-20. Archived from the original on 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  2. ^ a b "Eesti välispoliitika Balti suund 1926–1934" (PDF). University of Tartu. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Balti turniir lõppes fiaskoga". dea.digar.ee. Maa Hääl. 6 September 1933. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  4. ^ Allika, Andrus. "Vilniuses algas Balti turniir". Õhtuleht. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  5. ^ "EJL tegi ettepaneku uuendusteks Balti turniiril". Eesti Päevaleht. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Baltic Cup Overview in rsssf.com". almis.sritis.lt. Retrieved 4 June 2018.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baltic_Cup_(football)&oldid=964611956"