Latvia

Surprise Euro 2004 qualifiers Latvia are trying to make the most of a tight budget and avoid injuries among their small squad ahead, said the soccer federation president, Janis Mezeckis.

He added that coach Aleksandrs Starkovs — hailed as a guru for guiding the small nation of 2.3 million to its first major finals — has complete control of the build-up to Euro 2004 but said costs and the fear of injuries restricted the team.

Latvia will only play a home friendly against Azerbaijan on June 6 before travelling to Portugal and Mezeckis said the reason was partly a question of money in a country where ice hockey is king and football has been a distant second until now.

Latvia forward Marian Pahars will form an impressive partnership up front in Portugal with Maris Verpakovskis, who shot to glory in the qualifiers with a series of decisive goals.

But Starkovs's tactical formula of dogged defending and quick counter-attacks could enable Pahars to use his pace and skill on the ball to create a surprise or two in Portugal.

Reuters

Qualified for the first time in 2004

SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: 1-Aleksandrs Kolinko (Rostov), 12-Andrejs Piedels (Skonto Riga), 20-Andrejs Pavlovs (Skonto Riga)

Defenders: 2-Igors Stepanovs (Beveren), 4-Mihails Zemlinskis (Skonto Riga), 6-Olegs Blagonadezdins (Skonto Riga), 22-Arturs Zakresevskis (Skonto Riga), 7-Aleksandrs Isakovs (Skonto Riga), 16-Dzintars Zirnis (Liepajas Metalurgs), 18-Igors Korablovs (Ventspils), 15-Maris Smirnovs (Ventspils)

Midfielders: 3-Vitalijs Astafjevs (Herold Admira), 8-Imants Bleidelis (Viborg), 10-Andrejs Rubins (Shinnik Yaroslavl), 5-Juris Laizans (CSKA Moscow), 14-Valentins Lobanovs (Metalurg Zaporizhya), 13-Jurgis Pucinsks (Luch-Energia Vladivostock).