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Even the Latvians are trotting out the party line:
"Happy just to be here", "honoured
to be playing such great nations". Pull the
other one. Delighted as they are to be making their
first appearance in a major tournament, the Baltic
country will at least want to bloody some noses
and steal a few headlines.
The victory over Turkey from 2-0 down in Istanbul
has given the team's confidence a tremendous shot
in the arm. Star striker Maris Verkapovskis has
transformed from journeyman into a national hero,
supposedly being courted by Europe's top clubs,
among them Arsenal.
But if we had been concentrating, the Turks' downfall
might not have come as such a surprise. In six qualifying
games against Turkey, Sweden and Poland their record
reads: won 3, drawn 2, lost 1.
Aside from Verkapovskis and the returning Marian
Pahars the team is lacking in familiar faces, and
relies on a strong work ethic and swift, counter-attacking
play. While qualification is surely beyond them,
Latvia will be nobody's fools.
Prediction: An early exit, but will not
finish pointless
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