Latvia squad at Euro 2004

Latvia

Euro 2004 Home | Squad | Star Player | Key Man

The draw has been unkind to Latvia, leaving them in the 'Group of Death' and few people would give them any chance of taking so much as a single point away from Portugal. However, the Latvians are not coming just to make up the numbers. They surprised World Cup semi-finalists Turkey in the play-offs and, in Verpakovskis and Pahars, have a couple of strikers capable of putting the ball in the net at any level. The rest of the squad is fairly average although hugely experienced so don't expect them to roll over and die. Above all they'll be out to enjoy themselves as it's the country's first ever participation in a major tournament. Just getting there was a victory in itself.

Squad

Coach: Aleksandrs Starkovs

Goalkeepers
1 Aleksandrs Kolinko
12 Andrejs Piedels
23 Andrejs Pavlovs
- Andris Vanins
Defenders
2 Mihails Zemlinskis
3 Igors Stepanovs
4 Olegs Blagonadezdins
5 Arturs Zakresevskis
14 Aleksandrs Isakovs
15 Igors Korablovs
16 Maris Smirnovs
17 Dzintars Zirnis
Midfielders
6 Vitalijs Astafjevs
7 Imants Bleidelis
8 Andrejs Rubins
18 Juris Laizans
19 Valentins Lobanovs
20 Vladimirs Kolesnicenko
21 Jurgis Pucinsks
22 Andrejs Stolcers
- Igors Semjonovs
- Kristaps Blanks
Attackers
9 Marians Pahars
10 Vits Rimkus
11 Maris Verpakovskis
24 Mihails Miholaps
- Viktors Dobrecovs
- Andrejs Prohorenkovs
- Gatis Kalnins

Star Player

 Whilst Marians Pahars' star has been on the wane in recent years, his young accomplice Maris Verpakovskis has enlarged his reputation with a string of accomplished performances in the national team. It was largely his goals that took Latvia to Euro 2004 and earnt him a transfer to Kyiv Dynamo

Chances will be few and far between for the Latvians in this tournament but none is better equiped to capitalise on them than Verpakovskis. His pace and finishing are his main assets and he'll surely relish his first real test on the world stage.
Key Man Thirty-three year old Vitalijs Astafjevs is captain of the Latvian national team and has over 100 caps to his name. Currently playing in Austria (he had a spell with Bristol Rovers) his experience will be essential if the Latvians are not to be overawed by the occasion.

Astafjevs is a ball-playing midfielder who will try to dictate the pace of the game and play through-balls to the pacy attackers.

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