Thursday Sep 29 2005 12:20
Latvia striker Marian Pahars insists that all the pressure is on the Netherlands ahead of Wednesday's vital Group D clash in Braga.
Both sides enter the match knowing that a victory will see them qualify for the quarter-finals as long as Germany fail to beat the Czech Republic in Lisbon.
A narrow defeat at the hands of the Czechs and a goalless draw with Germany means that Latvia have already exceeded all pre-tournament expectations, but Pahars knows the same cannot be said of the star-studded Dutch squad.
The Southampton star told his club's official website: "A win would put us through provided Germany do not beat the Czech Republic - and that would be truly unbelievable.
"But there is no danger of us losing our focus because of that.
"This team will never get carried away like that. We have come too far together for that and we are not going to stop doing the things we are good at.
"We have to be realistic and accept it is still unlikely we will go through so the main thing is still not to lose.
"When we drew against Germany it was almost like winning the tournament and we want to experience that feeling again.
"First and foremost we have to ensure we are not beaten and if we could snatch a win it would be wonderful.
"We now have to work even harder than we did against Germany and be even more determined and organised - then who knows?
"Holland might be a bit nervous. They have to win and even that might not be enough for them. They are under pressure."
Pahars has appeared as a second-half substitute in both Latvia's games so far and again looks likely to have to settle for a place on the bench against the Dutch, as coach Aleksandrs Starkovs keeps faith with strike pair Maris Verpakovskis and Andrejs Prohorenkovs.
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