Latvia at the UEFA European Championship

Latvia qualified once for a UEFA European Championship, the 2004 edition. After finishing second in their qualifying group, they won the two-legged play-offs against Turkey (3–2 on aggregate) to secure their first appearance at the end stage of a major tournament.[1][2] In doing so, Latvia became the first and (as of 2019) still the only Baltic team to qualify for a European Championship.[1][2]

At the Euro 2004, Latvia were drawn in Group D, alongside Germany, Czech Republic, and Netherlands.[3] Latvia faced Czech Republic in their opening match on 15 June 2004, with Māris Verpakovskis scoring before half-time.[4] However, the Czechs would later come back to win the game 2–1.[4] Four days later, Latvia earned a respectable 0–0 draw against World Cup vice-champions Germany to earn their first point in a major tournament.[5] They lost their final match with 3–0 against Netherlands,[6] and were eliminated, finished fourth, with one point from their draw and two losses.[7]

Euro 2004
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Czech Republic 3 3 0 0 7 4 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Netherlands 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2 4
3  Germany 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
4  Latvia 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Czech Republic vs Latvia
Czech Republic 2–1 Latvia
Baroš  73'
Heinz  85'		 Report Verpakovskis  45+1'
Attendance: 21,744
Czech Republic
Latvia
GK1Petr Čech
RB2Zdeněk Grygera 56'
CB5René Bolf
CB21Tomáš Ujfaluši
LB6Marek Jankulovski
DM4Tomáš Galásek 64'
RM8Karel Poborský
CM10Tomáš Rosický
LM11Pavel Nedvěd (c)
CF15Milan Baroš 87'
CF9Jan Koller
Substitutions:
FW18Marek Heinz 56'
MF7Vladimír Šmicer 64'
DF13Martin Jiránek 87'
Manager:
Karel Brückner
GK1Aleksandrs Koļinko
RB7Aleksandrs Isakovs
CB4Mihails Zemļinskis
CB2Igors Stepanovs
LB6Oļegs Blagonadeždins
RM8Imants Bleidelis
CM3Vitālijs Astafjevs (c)
CM14Valentīns Lobaņovs 90'
LM10Andrejs Rubins
CF11Andrejs Prohorenkovs 71'
CF9Māris Verpakovskis 81'
Substitutions:
MF5Juris Laizāns 71'
FW17Marians Pahars 81'
FW23Vīts Rimkus 90'
Manager:
Aleksandrs Starkovs

Man of the Match:
Milan Baroš (Czech Republic)[8]

Assistant referees:
Frédéric Arnault (France)
Serge Vallin (France)
Fourth official:
Kyros Vassaras (Greece)

Latvia vs Germany
Latvia 0–0 Germany
Report
Attendance: 22,344
Referee: Mike Riley (England)
Latvia
Germany
GK1Aleksandrs Koļinko
RB7Aleksandrs Isakovs 1'
CB4Mihails Zemļinskis
CB2Igors Stepanovs
LB6Oļegs Blagonadeždins
RM8Imants Bleidelis
CM3Vitālijs Astafjevs (c) 79'
CM14Valentīns Lobaņovs 70'
LM10Andrejs Rubins
CF11Andrejs Prohorenkovs 67'
CF9Māris Verpakovskis 90+2'
Substitutions:
FW17Marians Pahars 67'
MF5Juris Laizāns 70'
DF16Dzintars Zirnis 90+2'
Manager:
Aleksandrs Starkovs
GK1Oliver Kahn (c)
RB3Arne Friedrich 21'
CB4Christian Wörns
CB6Frank Baumann
LB21Philipp Lahm
RM19Bernd Schneider 46'
CM8Dietmar Hamann 42'
CM13Michael Ballack
LM22Torsten Frings 53'
CF9Fredi Bobic 67'
CF10Kevin Kurányi 78'
Substitutions:
MF7Bastian Schweinsteiger 46'
FW11Miroslav Klose 67'
FW14Thomas Brdaric 78'
Manager:
Rudi Völler

Man of the Match:
Michael Ballack (Germany)[9]

Assistant referees:
Philip Sharp (England)
Glenn Turner (England)
Fourth official:
Alain Hamer (Luxrmbourg)

Netherlands vs Latvia
Netherlands 3–0 Latvia
Van Nistelrooy  27' (pen.), 35'
Makaay  84'		 Report
Attendance: 27,904
Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)
Netherlands
Latvia
GK1Edwin van der Sar
RB2Michael Reiziger
CB3Jaap Stam
CB15Frank de Boer (c)
LB5Giovanni van Bronckhorst
CM20Clarence Seedorf
CM6Phillip Cocu
CM8Edgar Davids 77'
RW7Andy van der Meyde 63'
LW19Arjen Robben
CF10Ruud van Nistelrooy 70'
Substitutions:
MF16Marc Overmars 63'
FW12Roy Makaay 70'
MF14Wesley Sneijder 77'
Manager:
Dick Advocaat
GK1Aleksandrs Koļinko
RB7Aleksandrs Isakovs
CB4Mihails Zemļinskis
CB2Igors Stepanovs
LB6Oļegs Blagonadeždins
RM8Imants Bleidelis 83'
CM14Valentīns Lobaņovs 53'
CM3Vitālijs Astafjevs (c)
LM10Andrejs Rubins
SS11Andrejs Prohorenkovs 74'
CF9Māris Verpakovskis 62'
Substitutions:
FW17Marians Pahars 62'
MF5Juris Laizāns 74'
MF19Andrejs Štolcers 83'
Manager:
Aleksandrs Starkovs

Man of the Match:
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)[10]

Assistant referees:
Jens Larsen (Denmark)
Jørgen Jepsen (Denmark)
Fourth official:
Lucílio Batista (Portugal)

Overview
Latvian fans at Euro 2004
UEFA European Championship record
Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA
1960 to 1992 Part of  Soviet Union
1996 to 2000 Did not qualify
2004 Group Stage 14th 3 0 1 2 1 5
2008 to 2020 Did not qualify
Total Group Stage 1/16 3 0 1 2 1 5

References
  1. "Joyful Latvia make history". Unions of European Football Associations. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  2. "Latvia claim historic win". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  3. "Euro 2004 draw". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  4. "Czech Rep 2–1 Latvia". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  5. "Latvia 0–0 Germany". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  6. "Holland 3–0 Latvia". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  7. "Group D". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  8. "Milan Baroš". Union of European Football Associations. 15 June 2004. Archived from the original on 24 June 2004. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  9. "Michael Ballack". Union of European Football Associations. 19 June 2004. Archived from the original on 24 June 2004. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  10. "Ruud van Nistelrooij". Union of European Football Associations. 23 June 2004. Archived from the original on 26 June 2004. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
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