Latvia leave Pahars on bench

Latvia striker Marian Pahars lost his fitness battle to start the Group D Euro 2004 match with the Czech Republic at Aveiro’s colourful Estadio Municipal in what is the biggest moment in the Baltic nation’s football history.

Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs left a decision as late as possible on whether to pick the Southampton forward alongside the hero of the qualifying tournament, Maris Verpakovskis, in attack.