Each Wednesday from now until the tournament kicks-off, TheFA.com will be profiling all the countries partipating at Euro 2004.

Latvia are in Euro 2004 Group D with Germany, Holland and the Czech Republic.

The manager is Aleksandrs Starkovs and he named three players with Premiership clubs for the friendly against Iceland in Riga last night (Wed).

They are Igor Stepanovs (Arsenal), Andrejs Stolcers (Fulham) and Marian Pahars (Southampton).

Latvia will be one of 10 countries to join the EU on Saturday.

The Stats

Latvia qualified for Euro 2004 with a play-off win against Turkey, who finished second in England’s group. Latvia kept six clean sheets in their 10 matches on the way to Euro 2004.

They reached the play-offs with a 1-0 win away to Sweden, star man Maris Verpakovskis scoring the goal.

With a population of just 2.3million, Latvia will be the smallest country at Euro 2004. Fulham’s Andrejs Stolcers has played eight times for his country this season but just once for his club – in a League Cup defeat at Wigan.

Igor Stepanovs of Arsenal has been on loan with Beveren in Belgium this season. His last Gunners appearance came in a 6-1 win against Southampton last May.

Just over 67% of Latvians voted to join the EU in a referendum last year. They will join on Saturday 1 May.

A third of the population in Latvia are Russian-speaking. Latvia declared independence from the old Soviet Union in 1991.

The Opinion

An Englishman played a major part in Latvia’s first appearance in a major international tournament.

Gary Johnson, now in charge of Third Division Yeovil, became the national team manager in 1999 and handed over the reins two years later to his assistant Aleksandrs Starkovs.

"Obviously, qualifying is a massive achievement for a country of Latvia’s size. But if anyone thinks they will roll over in Portugal, they will be mistaken," says Johnson.

"I suppose if I have left any legacy, it was to make the players mentally tougher. When I arrived, I saw there was talent around but heads tended to drop if they went a goal behind.

"We pride ourselves in England for being tough competitors and I would say it’s something the Latvian team have learned. It also helps of course that some of their top players now play abroad."

There is talent to call upon as well. Latvia have nine strikers who are in contention for places in Portugal and Johnson says a couple of them are special.

"A few English clubs looked at Maris Verpakovskis when he was at Skonto Riga.

"But he has gone to Dynamo Kyiv and he has settled in really well and is scoring goals. He has got four in five games I think. And the return of Pahars at Southampton from horrendous injury trouble is a real boost as well.

"There are goals in the side if they can get the service."

Whatever happens, Johnson will be there in Portugal cheering ‘his lads’ on.

"You will be able to spot me – I will have a huge Latvian flag draped around me and trying to teach them how to speak Cockney! It is going to be an emotional time, they have come so far to reach the finals."

The Colour

Chess grandmaster Mikhail Tal was dubbed ‘The Magician from Riga’ after becoming the youngest world champion in 1960, aged just 24.

Legendary American film actor Charles Bronson was the son of Latvian immigrants.

Latvia hosted its first Eurovision Song Contest last year and one of the co-hosts was 2002 winner Marija Naumova.

Staple of the Latvian diet is Rupjmaize, a dark rye bread. Klingeris is a popular dessert, a pretzel filled with almonds and raisins.

The President of Latvia lives at his official residence, Riga Castle, on the banks of the Daugava River.

The Matches

Date

Opponents

Venue

Comp

KO

15 Jun 04

Czech Republic

Aveiro

ECF

1700

19 Jun 04

Germany

Porto (Bessa)

ECF

1700

23 Jun 04

Holland

Braga

ECF

1945