Germany game 'another step for Latvia'

Latvia defender Igors Stepanovs believes his country’s Euro 2004 match with Germany will be another step on the learning curve for the big-stage debutants.

The giant central defender – who with defensive partner Mihails Zemlinskis impressed in the 2-1 Group D defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic – is anticipating an entirely different match with the Germans at the Estadio do Bessa.

“There is a very big difference between the teams,” Stepanovs said.

“I think the Germans are very physical and play strong football but the Czechs are a lot more skilful and try to keep the ball.

“The Germans play the long ball much more so we are expecting a totally different match.”

Whereas the Czechs have arguably the most skilful midfield in the tournament in Karel Poborsky, Tomas Rosicky and Pavel Nedved plus the more steely Tomas Galasek, the Germans are more noted for their team work.

Stepanovs said: “The Germans are strong as a team but not as individuals - even (Kevin) Kuranyi and (Fredi) Bobic are not capable of getting a result on their own.

“The Germans are strong only as a team.”

Stepanovs and Zemlinskis will be expected to deal with an all-out German assault today at the home of Boavista.

The German coach Rudi Voller has indicated he will change to two strikers against the Latvians after fielding Kuranyi as a lone ranger up front in the 1-1 draw with Holland at the Estadio do Dragao.

“We were not expecting Germany to play without strikers,” joked Stepanovs. “We will have a difficult game and we must try and do our best.”

Stepanovs has just been released by Arsenal after spending last season on loan with Belgian outfit Beveren but – like the rest of Latvia’s players – has been banned from negotiating any deals during the duration of the tournament.

Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs is also coach of Skonto Riga – the biggest club in Latvia – and with seven Skonto players in the squad the last thing he needs is to be distracted by transfer issues during the tournament.

At the moment Starkovs has plenty of other issues to deal with, for instance whether to play midfielder Juris Laizans or striker Marians Pahars from the start.

Neither started in the 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic at Aveiro - a match where Maris Verpakovskis put the Latvians ahead on the stroke of the interval only for Milan Baros and Marek Heinz to save the game for the Czechs.

Starkovs said: “He (Laizans) is okay and he is training with us in the stadium and will be in the squad. It is the same answer for Pahars.”

If Pahars does not make it then Andrejs Prohorenkovs will start alongside Verpakovskis who was excellent against the Czechs and it was just after he was replaced that Latvia began to lose their grip.

Starkovs was quick to stress Prohorenkovs had asked to be replaced, while also admitting Pahars had never made a full recovery from the thigh injury he sustained towards the end of the Premiership season.

Starkovs said: “He (Pahars) is still not fully fit – it would be strange if he was because he has missed a lot of training but he will be in the squad.”

He admits playing three-times world champions Germany is another landmark for the Latvian nation that has never seen its team play on such a big stage before.

Starkovs said: “It is a really big event for our team – we are playing a very strong Germany team.

“We know all about the trophies they have won and their great football history – in Latvia the reputation of the German team is very high indeed.”