Settled Latvia take Cyprus trip

By Aleksandrs Vasiljevs

New Latvia coach Jurijs Andrejevs has named a familiar-looking squad for the international tournament in Cyprus.

Settled side
Andrejevs is relying on the same group of players that his predecessor, Aleksandrs Starkovs, took to the finals of UEFA EURO 2004™ as he prepares for Latvia's next FIFA World Cup Group 3 qualifier against Luxembourg on 30 March.

Three withdrawals
The only changes are enforced ones, as defensive midfielder Valentins Lobanovs withdrew from the squad due to illness, to be followed by Vladimirs Kolesnicenko and Igors Semenovs. Kolesnicenko is still without a club after leaving Skonto last summer while Semenovs is out of form.

Skonto trio
Their replacements are Skonto FC forward Mihails Miholaps and his club mates Aleksejs Visnakovs and Viktors Morozs, both of whom are midfielders. Andrejevs said: "The players going to Cyprus will form the basis of the squad for the Luxembourg game, but some changes may be made. Injuries will come into the equation."

Finland opener
Andrejevs' side will be competing with Finland, Cyprus and Austria in the tournament, which starts on 8 February with Latvia taking on a Baltic rival in Finland.

Latvia squad
Kolinko (FC Rubin Kazan), Piedels (Skonto FC), Stepanovs (Grasshopper-Club), Zemlinskis (Skonto FC), Zirnis (FHK Liepajas Metalurgs), Smirnovs (FK Ventspils), Zakresevskis (Skonto FC), Zavoronkovs (FK Ventspils), Isakovs (Skonto FC), Astafjevs (FC Rubin Kazan), Morozs (Skonto FC), Laizans (PFC CSKA Moskva), Rubins (FC Spartak Moskva), Bleidelis (Grazer AK), Visnakovs (Skonto FC), Verpakovskis (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Miholaps (Skonto FC), Prohorenkovs (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Rimkus (FK Ventspils), Kalnins (Skonto FC).