Latvia Schedule & Results | Scouting Report | Road to Euro 2004

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Style of Play:
Using a standard 4-4-2 formation with a flat-back four, coach Alexanders Starkovs has built Latvia into a classic counterattacking side. To do this, they play a pressing game in midfield, constantly running after the ball to reduce the size of neutral zone, thus giving opposing players little room to operate. Once they've won possession of the ball in midfield, they quickly turnaround and launch a swift counterattack down the wings. The two wide-outs (Andrejs Rubins on the left, Imants Bleidelis on the right) are the key to Latvia's game plan, as they have to use their speed down the wings in the counterattacks, but also contribute defensively when Latvia's is trying to win the ball in midfield. The two central midfielders have completely different roles: Valentins Lobanovs tries to win the ball and cause disruption for the other side, while Vitalijs Astafjevs serves as the creative playmaker. The two strikers (Marian Pahars and Maris Verpakovskis) act as target-men, and rely entirely on the service of the midfield for their scoring chances. Coach Starkovs could also go with a 4-5-1 formation, dropping Pahars back in central midfield.

Strengths:
Goalkeeping - In 28-year-old Aleksandrs Kolinko, Latvia has a reliable and steady goalkeeper between the posts. Kolinko plays in the Russian domestic league, meaning he is used to facing off against a higher quality of strikers than that found in the Latvian league. That experience will come in handy in Portugal when he has to stop some of the top strikers in European soccer.

Central defence - Igors Stepanovs and Mihails Zemlinskis have formed a steady, solid partnership in central defence for Latvia's national team over the years. The two centre backs have a wealth of experience (between them, they've earned over 150 caps) and helped Latvia take points off of favourites Sweden and Poland in the qualifying round.

No pressure - If nothing else, Latvia has a tonne of zest and zeal coming in Euro. This is their first major international tournament and most pundits argue that they weren't supposed to be here. But as they demonstrated by defeating Turkey in the playoffs, unbridled passion and a fearless attitude can carry teams a long way. Latvia has nothing to lose at Euro, meaning all the pressure will be on all the other teams in Group D.

Weaknesses:
Tough Group - The draw could not have been any crueller to the tiny Baltic nation. Competing in its first major international tournament, Latvia finds itself competing in Group D against thee-time Euro champions Germany, former champions and heavy favourites Czech Republic, and perennial European soccer power Netherlands. Securing a tie - let alone a win - will be a major accomplishment.

One dimensional - Figuring out how to beat Latvia isn't tough, because it relies entirely on the counterattack to score its goals. Latvia's one-dimensional play means teams can easily take charge of the game by putting them under constant pressure, pinning them back in their end of the field and taking an early lead. Latvia hasn't the tactical acumen to make adjustments as the game progresses, leaving them dead in the water if they fall behind early.

Quality - To be blunt, Latvia doesn't have the quality of players to compete in Portugal. The majority of the squad plays in the Latvian domestic league (hardly an example of world-class soccer) and have little experience facing players who ply their trade in the top European leagues. Only a small handful of the squad play outside Latvia, and the majority of them warm the bench.

Key Players to watch:
Marians Pahars - Pahars is Lativa's biggest star. He's a versatile player that can either line up as a forward or a midfielder, and has a wealth of first-team soccer experience playing for Southampton of the English Premiership. Short but quick, Pahars is a dangerous goal scorer who is particularly deadly in free-kick situations because he can blast the ball with either foot.

Maris Verpakovskis - The prototypical counterattacking striker, Verpakovskis uses his speed and cunning to get himself into position where he scores spectacular goals. Noted for his solid work ethic and excellent dribbling skills. Verpakovskis scored twice against Turkey in the two-game playoff that earned Latvia a spot at Euro 2004.

Aleksandrs Kolinko - Kolinko is an excellent goalkeeper who reads the game well and is quick to react to the action around him. An imposing, athletic player, he's a reliable shot-stopper whose six shutouts in the qualifying round was one of the main reasons why Latvia will be competing at Euro 2004.

Key injuries/squad omissions:
Striker Marian Pahars (groin problem), midfielder Imants Bleidelis (pulled a leg muscle) and defender Olegs Blagonadezdins were struggling with injuries but they all should be fit when the tournament begins. If they aren't, Latvia will be in trouble because all three are starters. Goalkeeper Andris Vanins (lack of first-team soccer this past year), midfield playmaker Vladimirs Kolesnicenko (coming off a disappointing domestic season), teenagers Kristaps Blanks and Igors Semjonovs (inexperience), and strikers Viktors Dobrecovs and Gatis Kalnins were not selected.

Prognosis:
Latvia's fate was sealed when UEFA made the draw months ago for Euro 2004. Pooled into a group with three of the elite teams of European soccer - all of which have won this tournament - does not bode well for the Latvians. Some pundits will point out that Latvia battled to a second-place finish in a qualifying group that included Sweden and Poland, and then defeated Turkey (World Cup semifinalists in 2002) in a two-game playoff to advance to Euro 2004. Now that they're here, however, they're in for a rude awakening. Having to play against three sides that are brimming with world-class players, Latvia will find itself run ragged, outplayed and outclassed in every game. Anything but a fourth-place finish should be considered a major achievement, as the Baltic upstarts will be heading home after losing all three of their opening-round games.

Current FIFA Ranking: #53

First-round matches:
June 15 vs. Czech Republic (Aveiro)
June 19 vs. Germany (Porto)
June 23 vs. Netherlands (Braga)

Euro 2004 qualification route:
Finished 2nd in qualifying Group 4 (16 points) behind Sweden (17 points); and then defeated Turkey in a two-game playoff, winning 3-2 on aggregate.

Record in qualifying: 7 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses
Goals for: 13 Goals against: 8

Qualifying results:
09.07.2002 - Latvia 0 Sweden 0
10.12.2002 - Latvia 1 Poland 0
11.20.2002 - Latvia 1 San Marino 0
04.30.2003 - Latvia 3 San Marino 0
06.07.2003 - Hungary 3 Latvia 1
09.06.2003 - Poland 2 Latvia 0
09.10.2003 - Latvia 3 Hungary 1
10.11.2003 - Latvia 1 Sweden 0
11.15.2003 - Latvia 1 Turkey 0
11.19.2003 - Latvia 2 Turkey 2

Euro History:
1960 -1992 - Part of Soviet Union, so no independent participation
1996 - did not qualify
2000 - did not qualify

Greatest Players:
Eriks Petersons: The all-time leading scorer for his country, Eriks Petersons is considered the best Latvian soccer player of the pre-Second World War era. The star striker scored 24 times in 63 games for his country between 1929-1939 when Latvia competed as an independent nation in international soccer.

Aleksandrs Starkovs: Latvia's current coach, Aleksandrs Starkovs was also an accomplished player in his day. He floated between the Latvian and Soviet domestic leagues, and scored 110 goals in 303 games for FK Daugava in the Soviet second division before retiring from the game in 1989.