The Hindu : Sport / Football : Latvia holds Germany

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 21, 2004

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Sport - Football

Latvia holds Germany

PORTO, JUNE 20. Latvia produced one of the biggest surprises in European championship history on Saturday when the 500-1 outsider held three-time champion Germany to a 0-0 tie at Euro 2004.

The team expected to be beaten heavily by the three powerhouse teams in Group `D' also had a clear penalty disallowed when striker Maris Verpakovskis was brought down by Frank Baumann but English referee Mike Riley ignored Latvia's claims.

The result means that Germany, which also has the Netherlands and the Czech Republic in its group, has just two points from two games.

Rudi Voeller's team, runner-up to Brazil at the 2002 World Cup, started with a 1-1 tie with the Dutch.

Oliver Kahn also rescued Germany against the European Championship rookie with a top quality save just before half-time.

The veteran Bayern Munich 'keeper raced off his line to hold a low shot from Maris Verpakovskis, who had scored Latvia's first goal in a major championship in the 2-1 loss to the Czech Republic in its opening Group `D' game.

``We had our chances but we couldn't convert them, that was our problem,'' said midfielder Philipp Lahm.

``The group is still wide open, there's still a chance to advance.''

In Latvia, loud cheering was heard at homes and bars all over the capital Riga.

``How many times have I told people I'm from Latvia, and they asked `where?' Well, this is a hello to the world from Latvia,'' said Rainis Medenis, 29, who watched the game at one of many street parties in Riga.

``Now by drawing with Germany, people will know where I'm from.''

The match was only 25 seconds old when Latvian defender Aleksandrs Isakovs was shown the yellow card by English referee Mike Riley for a foul on Torsten Frings on the left.

Then the Germans created two heading chances in the space of a few seconds, Ballack climbing to meet a leftwing cross but missing the target and, when the ball came back into the danger area, Kuranyi also headed wide.

Miroslav Klose should have scored the winner in the second minute of injury time when the Latvian defence, which had performed heroically throughout the game, allowed him to get free in front of goal but his header from no more than five metres went well wide.

``We're disappointed at the draw,'' said Ballack. ``Nothing is lost though.''

Line-ups:

Germany:

Oliver Kahn; Arne Friedrich, Frank Baumann, Christian Woerns, Philipp Lahm, Bernd Schneider (Bastian Schweinsteiger, 46th), Dietmar Hamann, Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings, Fredi Bobic (Miroslav Klose, 67th), Kevin Kuranyi (Thomas Brdaric, 78th). Latvia: Aleksandrs Kolinko; Igors Stepanovs, Vitalijs Astafjevs, Mihails Zemlinskis, Olegs Blagonadezdins, Aleksandrs Isakovs, Imants Bleidelis, Maris Verpakovskis (Dzintars Zirnis, 90+2), Andrejs Rubins, Andrejs Prohorenkovs (Marian Pahars, 67th), Valentis Lobanovs (Juris Laizans, 70th). — AP

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