Skinny
, 06:07 PM
http://footiethreads.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=804&stc=1 Country Info
AREA: 64,589 sq km
POPULATION: 2,348,784
NEIGHBOURS: Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia
LANGUAGES: Latvian
CAPITAL CITY: Riga
Situated by the Baltic Sea and between fellow Baltic states Estonia and Lithuania, Latvia has been ruled by Sweden, Germany and Russia until 20th century.
Powerful neighbours
Latvia has been a province of its powerful neighbours for ages and has always been a place wanted by the major countries situated nearby - mainly for the of strategic and commercial importance of its capital city Riga, a majort port city. Built in 1201, Riga has recently celebrated 800 years of existence and remains an important location in the Baltic region - both in cultural and economic terms.
Independent state
Latvians started gaining self-consciousness as a nation in 19th century, while independence was first gained in on 18 November 1918. Three years later, the first official football governing body, the Latvian Football Federation (LFF), was founded as the game gained status in the new-born country.
Soviet control
Latvia played their first ever official match on 24 September 1922 against Estonia, the game ending in a 1-1 draw. Football then developed gradually until World War Two, when Latvia was first occupied by the Germans, and then the Soviet Union, who made Latvia one of the republics of the USSR.
Flagship club
Latvia was represented in the Soviet championships by various teams at various times, most notably by FC Daugava Riga, a club which featured most of the famous local football players, including current national team coach Aleksandrs Starkovs.
Latvia reborn
In 1991, Latvia regained independence as the Soviet Union crumbled, and LFF was re-established that year as an independent governing body and UEFA member. On 8 April 1992, the reborn national team played its first-ever match, losing 2-0 to Romania away from home. Their first campaign as an independent state was for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which, like their next five qualifying campaigns, was not successful.
Dramatic upturn
However, Latvia's fortunes were to change dramatically for the better in the qualifying campaign for UEFA EURO 2004™, as Starkovs led his side to victories against Hungary, Poland and Sweden in qualifying to finish their campaign as runners-up in their qualifying group and winning a play-off place.
Wild celebrations
That success saw the traditional poplar sports of ice hockey and basketball take a back seat as football swamped the sporting agenda. A 1-0 win against play-off opponents Turkey in Riga saw wild celebrations in Latvia, but they were minor compared to the parties that greeted their subsequent 2-2 draw in Istanbul which saw the young nation book a place at the finals in Portugal.
Preview
Having gained just four points in their 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, finishing fourth well adrift of Croatia, Belgium and Scotland, and even been held to a draw by San Marino in Riga in front of a crowd of not much more than 500, Latvia were few pundits' idea of UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers.
Play-off triumph
But from holding Sweden in theirng game, they always looked potential qualifiers, and although they feel to defeats against both Poland and Hungary, those traditionally strong nations were pipped to a play-off place by Latvia. And then Turkey - semi-finalists in the 2002 World Cup - were beaten 1-0 in Riga and then subjected to a stunning comeback in Istanbul to take Latvia into their first major finals since independence.
Counterattacking style
So how did Latvia go from being a team that had never finished in the top three of a qualifying group to a team able to join Europe's elite 16? The key was the counterattacking style adopted by coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, who succeeding Gary Johnson in 2001 after the draw with San Marino. His 4-4-2 formation based around a pressing game and swift breaks paid dividends.
Kolinko's clean sheets
Aleksandrs Kolinko is the regular goalkeeper, and his six clean sheets in Latvia's ten qualifiers were vital to their success. Aleksandrs Isakovs and the Dzintars Zirnis were the full-backs in qualifying, although Olegs Blagonadezdins would have had a place if fit. Igors Stepanovs and the experienced Mihails Zemlinskis held the centre of defence.
Wingers vital
Valentins Lobanovs has a crucial role as the holding midfield player, with Jurijs Laizans and Vitalis Astafjevs also in the centre, important to Latvia's tight game. Imants Bleidelis is on the right wing and Andrejs Rubins on the left, the crucial positions positions with both defensive and counterattacking duties, swiftly moving the ball forward using their considerable pace.
Strike force
Up front, Maris Verpakovskis found prolific form in the latter qualifiers - including against Turkey - with Vits Rimkus as the regular partner. However, Marians Pahars returned to fitness to come on at the end of the second leg in the qualifiers and provides another option, as does Andrejs Prohorenkovs.
Win in Poland
The 0-0 draw with Sweden at the start of qualifying showed the strength of the new tactics, as a visiting onslaught was seen off. The next month, Laizans struck to secure a superb 1-0 win in Poland that took Latvia into first place, and although the trip to San Marino in November 2002 brought back unhappy memories of that previous meeting, Carlo Valentini's last-minute own goal secured a narrow victory.
First setback
When qualifying resumed in April 2003, San Marino were beaten 3-0 in Riga, Prohorenkovs'sr followed by two goals from Bleidelis. June saw the first setback, as Verpakovskis put Latvia- still group leaders - ahead at half-time in Hungary only for the home side to prevail 3-1. Sweden finally established themselves firmly in pole position in September as Poland won 2-0 in Riga, but a 3-1 home win against Hungary four days later with two goals from Verpakovskis and another by Bleidelis kept Latvia in the running.
Qualification sealed
Then in October came the decisive 1-0 victory in already-qualified Sweden, Verpakovskis ending their hosts' 25-match unbeaten qualifying run. Turkey seemed the favourites when paired with Latvia in the play-off draw, but Strakovs' side prevailed in Riga thanks to Verpakovskis and despite falling 2-0 down on 64 minutes in Istanbul, Laizans and Verpakovskis scored two more crucial goals to book what seemed an unlikely berth in Portugal.
Squad List (subject to change)
Aleksandrs Kolinko
Andrejs Piedels
----------------
Olegs Blagonasezdins
Igors N Stepanovs
Aleksandrs Isakovs
Dzintars Zirnis
Mihails Zemlinskis
Valentins Lobanovs
----------------
Vitalis Astafjevs
Imants Bleidelis
Andrejs Rubins
Jurijs Laizans
----------------
Marians Pahars
Andrejs Štolcers
Vits Rimkus
Maris Verpakovskis
Fixtures
v Czech Republic 17:00
v Germany 17:00
v Netherlands 19:45
(Match kick-offs are listed in local time)
In charge
Aleksandrs Starkovs
http://skontofc.lv/images/stories/starkovs.jpg
In leading Latvia to UEFA EURO 2004™ coach Aleksandrs Starkovs has dragged a small Baltic nation from the footballing wilderness to the high table of European competition.
Bereft of confidence
Since gaining independence in 1991, Latvia, which has just 2.3 million inhabitants, had never succeeded in reaching the finals of a major football tournament. The 48-year-old Starkovs engineered the end of that inauspicious run in spectacular fashion with a 3-2 aggregate success against Turkey in the play-offs. It was all so very different back in 2001 when Starkovs assumed control of a national side brimming with talent but bereft of confidence after an embarrassing 1-1 home draw against San Marino under previous coach Gary Johnson in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Dinamo move
Born in the small town of Madona, Starkovs was a highly accomplished young striker. At the age of 20 he joined FK Daugava Riga, the top Latvian team of the time. As Daugava pushed for promotion to the Soviet top-flight in 1977, Starkovs topped the second division scoring charts with 26 goals, earning a move to FC Dinamo Moskva. After failing to establish himself in the Russian capital, however, he returned to Daugava in search of regular first-team football.
Considerable success
He picked up where he left off at Daugava, playing just over 300 matches and becoming the first Latvian to score over 100 goals in the Soviet top flight. After hanging up his boots, Starkovs graduated from the Higher Coaching School in Moscow and in 1990 he became assistant to head coach Janis Skredelis at Daugava. Two years later, he took sole charge of Skonto FC, and has since led the club to an incredible eleven successive league titles.
First involvement
Starkovs first became involved with the national team in 1998, when he became former coach Revaz Dzodzuashvili's assistant. He continued in an assistant's role under Johnson, before taking the reins himself on 10 May 2001. Early results were mixed as Latvia won the Baltic Cup against Estonia and Lithuania but lost their remaining World Cup qualifiers against Croatia, Belgium, and Scotland. However many observers discerned a new-found confidence and togetherness in the side as they approached the EURO 2004™ qualifiers, despite being drawn in a tough Group 4 section alongside Sweden, Poland, Hungary and San Marino.
National heroes
Surprise early pacesetters in the group, the Latvians' form tailed off before they rallied to win their final match in Sweden and clinch a play-off spot. After being drawn against World Cup semi-finalists Turkey few rated Starkovs' chances of success but a hard-earned triumph saw the national coach and his charges, assume the position of national heroes. "It was a historic win," Starkovs declared after a famous 2-2 draw in Istanbul sealed progression to Portugal. How right he was.
Odds
150/1
AREA: 64,589 sq km
POPULATION: 2,348,784
NEIGHBOURS: Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia
LANGUAGES: Latvian
CAPITAL CITY: Riga
Situated by the Baltic Sea and between fellow Baltic states Estonia and Lithuania, Latvia has been ruled by Sweden, Germany and Russia until 20th century.
Powerful neighbours
Latvia has been a province of its powerful neighbours for ages and has always been a place wanted by the major countries situated nearby - mainly for the of strategic and commercial importance of its capital city Riga, a majort port city. Built in 1201, Riga has recently celebrated 800 years of existence and remains an important location in the Baltic region - both in cultural and economic terms.
Independent state
Latvians started gaining self-consciousness as a nation in 19th century, while independence was first gained in on 18 November 1918. Three years later, the first official football governing body, the Latvian Football Federation (LFF), was founded as the game gained status in the new-born country.
Soviet control
Latvia played their first ever official match on 24 September 1922 against Estonia, the game ending in a 1-1 draw. Football then developed gradually until World War Two, when Latvia was first occupied by the Germans, and then the Soviet Union, who made Latvia one of the republics of the USSR.
Flagship club
Latvia was represented in the Soviet championships by various teams at various times, most notably by FC Daugava Riga, a club which featured most of the famous local football players, including current national team coach Aleksandrs Starkovs.
Latvia reborn
In 1991, Latvia regained independence as the Soviet Union crumbled, and LFF was re-established that year as an independent governing body and UEFA member. On 8 April 1992, the reborn national team played its first-ever match, losing 2-0 to Romania away from home. Their first campaign as an independent state was for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which, like their next five qualifying campaigns, was not successful.
Dramatic upturn
However, Latvia's fortunes were to change dramatically for the better in the qualifying campaign for UEFA EURO 2004™, as Starkovs led his side to victories against Hungary, Poland and Sweden in qualifying to finish their campaign as runners-up in their qualifying group and winning a play-off place.
Wild celebrations
That success saw the traditional poplar sports of ice hockey and basketball take a back seat as football swamped the sporting agenda. A 1-0 win against play-off opponents Turkey in Riga saw wild celebrations in Latvia, but they were minor compared to the parties that greeted their subsequent 2-2 draw in Istanbul which saw the young nation book a place at the finals in Portugal.
Preview
Having gained just four points in their 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, finishing fourth well adrift of Croatia, Belgium and Scotland, and even been held to a draw by San Marino in Riga in front of a crowd of not much more than 500, Latvia were few pundits' idea of UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers.
Play-off triumph
But from holding Sweden in theirng game, they always looked potential qualifiers, and although they feel to defeats against both Poland and Hungary, those traditionally strong nations were pipped to a play-off place by Latvia. And then Turkey - semi-finalists in the 2002 World Cup - were beaten 1-0 in Riga and then subjected to a stunning comeback in Istanbul to take Latvia into their first major finals since independence.
Counterattacking style
So how did Latvia go from being a team that had never finished in the top three of a qualifying group to a team able to join Europe's elite 16? The key was the counterattacking style adopted by coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, who succeeding Gary Johnson in 2001 after the draw with San Marino. His 4-4-2 formation based around a pressing game and swift breaks paid dividends.
Kolinko's clean sheets
Aleksandrs Kolinko is the regular goalkeeper, and his six clean sheets in Latvia's ten qualifiers were vital to their success. Aleksandrs Isakovs and the Dzintars Zirnis were the full-backs in qualifying, although Olegs Blagonadezdins would have had a place if fit. Igors Stepanovs and the experienced Mihails Zemlinskis held the centre of defence.
Wingers vital
Valentins Lobanovs has a crucial role as the holding midfield player, with Jurijs Laizans and Vitalis Astafjevs also in the centre, important to Latvia's tight game. Imants Bleidelis is on the right wing and Andrejs Rubins on the left, the crucial positions positions with both defensive and counterattacking duties, swiftly moving the ball forward using their considerable pace.
Strike force
Up front, Maris Verpakovskis found prolific form in the latter qualifiers - including against Turkey - with Vits Rimkus as the regular partner. However, Marians Pahars returned to fitness to come on at the end of the second leg in the qualifiers and provides another option, as does Andrejs Prohorenkovs.
Win in Poland
The 0-0 draw with Sweden at the start of qualifying showed the strength of the new tactics, as a visiting onslaught was seen off. The next month, Laizans struck to secure a superb 1-0 win in Poland that took Latvia into first place, and although the trip to San Marino in November 2002 brought back unhappy memories of that previous meeting, Carlo Valentini's last-minute own goal secured a narrow victory.
First setback
When qualifying resumed in April 2003, San Marino were beaten 3-0 in Riga, Prohorenkovs'sr followed by two goals from Bleidelis. June saw the first setback, as Verpakovskis put Latvia- still group leaders - ahead at half-time in Hungary only for the home side to prevail 3-1. Sweden finally established themselves firmly in pole position in September as Poland won 2-0 in Riga, but a 3-1 home win against Hungary four days later with two goals from Verpakovskis and another by Bleidelis kept Latvia in the running.
Qualification sealed
Then in October came the decisive 1-0 victory in already-qualified Sweden, Verpakovskis ending their hosts' 25-match unbeaten qualifying run. Turkey seemed the favourites when paired with Latvia in the play-off draw, but Strakovs' side prevailed in Riga thanks to Verpakovskis and despite falling 2-0 down on 64 minutes in Istanbul, Laizans and Verpakovskis scored two more crucial goals to book what seemed an unlikely berth in Portugal.
Squad List (subject to change)
Aleksandrs Kolinko
Andrejs Piedels
----------------
Olegs Blagonasezdins
Igors N Stepanovs
Aleksandrs Isakovs
Dzintars Zirnis
Mihails Zemlinskis
Valentins Lobanovs
----------------
Vitalis Astafjevs
Imants Bleidelis
Andrejs Rubins
Jurijs Laizans
----------------
Marians Pahars
Andrejs Štolcers
Vits Rimkus
Maris Verpakovskis
Fixtures
v Czech Republic 17:00
v Germany 17:00
v Netherlands 19:45
(Match kick-offs are listed in local time)
In charge
Aleksandrs Starkovs
http://skontofc.lv/images/stories/starkovs.jpg
In leading Latvia to UEFA EURO 2004™ coach Aleksandrs Starkovs has dragged a small Baltic nation from the footballing wilderness to the high table of European competition.
Bereft of confidence
Since gaining independence in 1991, Latvia, which has just 2.3 million inhabitants, had never succeeded in reaching the finals of a major football tournament. The 48-year-old Starkovs engineered the end of that inauspicious run in spectacular fashion with a 3-2 aggregate success against Turkey in the play-offs. It was all so very different back in 2001 when Starkovs assumed control of a national side brimming with talent but bereft of confidence after an embarrassing 1-1 home draw against San Marino under previous coach Gary Johnson in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Dinamo move
Born in the small town of Madona, Starkovs was a highly accomplished young striker. At the age of 20 he joined FK Daugava Riga, the top Latvian team of the time. As Daugava pushed for promotion to the Soviet top-flight in 1977, Starkovs topped the second division scoring charts with 26 goals, earning a move to FC Dinamo Moskva. After failing to establish himself in the Russian capital, however, he returned to Daugava in search of regular first-team football.
Considerable success
He picked up where he left off at Daugava, playing just over 300 matches and becoming the first Latvian to score over 100 goals in the Soviet top flight. After hanging up his boots, Starkovs graduated from the Higher Coaching School in Moscow and in 1990 he became assistant to head coach Janis Skredelis at Daugava. Two years later, he took sole charge of Skonto FC, and has since led the club to an incredible eleven successive league titles.
First involvement
Starkovs first became involved with the national team in 1998, when he became former coach Revaz Dzodzuashvili's assistant. He continued in an assistant's role under Johnson, before taking the reins himself on 10 May 2001. Early results were mixed as Latvia won the Baltic Cup against Estonia and Lithuania but lost their remaining World Cup qualifiers against Croatia, Belgium, and Scotland. However many observers discerned a new-found confidence and togetherness in the side as they approached the EURO 2004™ qualifiers, despite being drawn in a tough Group 4 section alongside Sweden, Poland, Hungary and San Marino.
National heroes
Surprise early pacesetters in the group, the Latvians' form tailed off before they rallied to win their final match in Sweden and clinch a play-off spot. After being drawn against World Cup semi-finalists Turkey few rated Starkovs' chances of success but a hard-earned triumph saw the national coach and his charges, assume the position of national heroes. "It was a historic win," Starkovs declared after a famous 2-2 draw in Istanbul sealed progression to Portugal. How right he was.
Odds
150/1