Latvians carrying the nation’s hopes

LATVIA Coach Aleksandrs Starkovs is under no illusion about the importance of the Euro 2004 finals for the tiny Baltic nation.

Starkovs claims Latvia's appearance on the same stage as football's heavyweights is simply the most important thing to happen to the Baltic nation this year.

With football fever breaking out back home just 24 hours before the Latvians kick off their tournament against the Czech Republic in Aveiro, Starkovs made no attempt to play down its significance.