Spirits high in Latvia camp
Monday, June 21, 2004
Article summary
Latvia prepare to face the Netherlands with a fully-fit squad and confidence high as they strive for a place in the quarter-finals.
Article body
Latvia stay put
Latvia had planned to travel to Braga on Tuesday, but Starkovs has opted instead to keep the team at their base in Anadia, where they trained ahead of the 0-0 draw with Germany on Saturday that has kept them in the hunt for a quarter-final place.
'Regular' session
All 23 Latvia players took part in Monday's training session which was described as "regular" by the coaching staff. Starkovs is expected to stick with the same XI against the Netherlands that started both his side's games so far.
High spirits
The Latvians are in high spirits - even if they lose to the Dutch, they will be hailed as national heroes back home. While the footballers are bracing themselves for their final encounter, the Latvian media faced the national team staff in a friendly game, which the journalists, who normally have the upper hand over the federation when it comes to criticism, lost 6-2.
Verpakovskis threat
The Dutch media, who have arrived in huge numbers in Anadia ahead of the match, are mainly concerned by the form of striker Maris Verpakovskis, who scored against the Czech Republic and also impressed against Germany, and the defensive pair of Igors Stepanovs and Mihails Zemlinskis.
