Thursday Sep 29 2005 10:17
Latvia have a fitness doubt over Southampton striker Marian Pahars as they prepare for their opening Euro 2004 clash against the Czech Republic.
Pahars has been struggling with a thigh injury but coach Aleksandrs Starkovs is desperate for the 28-year-old to partner Maris Verpakovskis in attack.
"Pahars is still preparing to play in the match," said Starkovs.
"Of course it is naive to think he will be normal again after three weeks but we want to use him if we can."
Latvia are widely expected to finish bottom in a group that also includes Germany and Holland, but Starkovs is looking forward to the challenge.
"Now the whole country is behind us," he added. "In Latvia this will be the main event of the year.
"I am not just talking about football but in the whole of life."
Skonto Riga defender Mihails Zemlinskis is expecting a tough couple of weeks.
"Unfortunately I am a defender so I have all the attacking players to worry about," he said.
"There is Jan Koller, Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky - we will have our hands full."
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