Mixed emotions for Latvia
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-17 07:00

Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs admitted he had mixed emotions after watching his side threaten a major upset before losing 2-1 to the Czech Republic in their Euro 2004 opener on Tuesday.

Latvia, making their debut in a major tournament, led 1-0 for nearly 30 minutes against the former champions and were still level at 1-1 with five minutes remaining when Marek Heinz struck the winner in the Group D match.

"We were nervous at the start, worried about our ability to perform at this level, but I can say I was proud of our performance in the end - and disappointed with the result," said Starkovs.

"We lost to a very skillful and well-organized team so I should not really be upset. Next time, for our next game, we will not to be so worried and we will prepare really well. We are going to take our next game very seriously."

Latvia, who took the lead in first-half injury time when striker Maris Verpakovskis converted an Andrejs Prohorenkovs cross from close range, mounted a valiant defensive battle before Milan Baros and Heinz struck in the last 17 minutes.

"We had to defend our lead, we played respectful football," said the coach, explaining why his team kept up to eight or nine players behind the ball, packing central midfield and defence.

"It was difficult for us, a very tough match," he added.

Prohorenkovs, who ran himself into the ground before asking to come off after 72 minutes, said he and the team felt relieved at finally playing their long-awaited first game.

"It was, in all honesty, hard to believe we could do it," he said. "I'm not sure we believed it ourselves when we were 1-0 up and defending like that. I think we did well. We did out best and we managed to create three or four chances on the counter-attack."

He said they were delighted in their dressing room at halftime.

"We were surprised, we knew we had done well then, but we also had worry about the second half. They changed their tactics and tried everything and in the end we could not hold on."

Czech coach Karel Brueckner said his team did not panic when they went 1-0 down to 500-1 longshot Latvia.

"We started well but the second part of the first half wasn't what we wanted. We were much more aggressive in the second half," he said. Latvia scored in first half injury time.

"We knew there was still a second half to play so there was no panic. There was time," he said.

Karel Poborsky, who set up the Czech equalizer for Milan Baros, said: "We didn't think we were going to lose, but still Baros's goal was a big moment.

"We got the three points we needed, and we can say we got the start we wanted even if there were some tense moments."

Substitute Marek Heinz, who scored the Czech winner in the 85th minute, said Latvia had been strong.

"There was a bit of a scramble and the ball came back to me. I thought about right-footing it but I decided it would be stronger with my left foot.

"They were really strong. We were prepared for it, and I think they were too.

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