Czech Republic v Latvia background
Monday, February 2, 2015
Article summary
The Czech Republic have won their first four Group A games and have reason for optimism as they take on Latvia, once adversaries at UEFA EURO 2004.
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The Czech Republic are the team to beat in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group A as they take on Latvia, whom they famously encountered for the first time at UEFA EURO 2004.
Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for a third time, with the Czechs seeking a third successive win.
• They first met at the finals of UEFA EURO 2004, Karel Brückner's Czechs beating Aleksandrs Starkovs' Latvia 2-1 in Aveiro, thanks to a late Marek Heinz goal.
• The teams for that game on 15 June 2004 were:
Czech Republic: Čech*, Grygera (Heinz 56), Galásek (Šmicer 64), Bolf, Jankulovski, Poborský, Koller, Rosický*. Nedvěd, Baroš (Jiránek 87), Ujfaluši.
Latvia: Koļinko*, Stepanovs, Astafjevs, Zemļinskis, Blagonadeždins, Isakovs, Bleidelis, Verpakovskis (Pahars 81), Rubins, Prohorenkovs (Laizāns 72), Lobaņovs (Rimkus 90).
• Marians Pahars, a substitute in that game, is now Latvia coach.
• More recently, the sides met in a friendly game in Liberec on 11 August 2010, the Czechs winning 4-1 with goals from Roman Bednář, Martin Fenin, Zdeněk Pospěch and Tomáš Necid*, Aleksandrs Cauņa* responding late on for Latvia.
*have been selected for UEFA EURO 2016 games.
Form guide
• The Czech Republic are one of only four teams still boasting a 100% record in UEFA EURO 20126 qualifying, along with Slovakia, Israel and England. The Czechs have won their last six qualifying matches in all competitions.
• The Czechs lost their last competitive game at Stadion Eden, 2-1 to Armenia in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying. As yet, they have won only once in three competitive fixtures at the venue.
• Latvia are without a victory in four Group A games (D2 L2) and have scored only once in those fixtures – Valērijs Šabala converting a penalty in a 1-1 draw against Turkey in Riga.
• Latvia are without a win in seven competitive matches (D3 L4) and have gone eight games without a competitive away success (D2 L6) since a 1-0 triumph in Georgia on 2 September 2011.
Trivia and links
• Including games played as Czechoslovakia, this is the Czech Republic's 300th competitive outing; their previous 299 UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup fixtures ended W168 D56 L75.
• Latvia midfielder Oļegs Laizāns turns 28 on the day of the Czech Republic game.
• Czech Republic defender Marek Suchý and goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík both celebrate birthdays on the day after the Latvia match, turning 27 and 26 respectively.
