EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS - 2014/16 SEASON MATCH PRESS KITS Skonto Stadions - Friday 12 June 2015 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Group A - Matchday -7 Last updated 12/07/2021 17:34CET

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Previous meetings 2 Match background 3 Squad list 4 Head 6 Match officials 7 Competition facts 8 Match-by-match lineups 9 Team facts 11 Legend 13

1 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga

Previous meetings Head to Head 2016 UEFA European Championship Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Van Persie 6, Robben 16/11/2014 QR (GS) Netherlands - Latvia 6-0 35, 82, Huntelaar 42, 89, Bruma 78

UEFA EURO 2004 Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Van Nistelrooy 27 (P), 23/06/2004 GS-FT Netherlands - Latvia 3-0 Braga 35, Makaay 84

Final Qualifying Total tournament

Home Away Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L GF GA EURO Latvia - - - - 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 9 Netherlands 1 1 0 0 - - - - 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 9 0 FIFA* Latvia ------Netherlands ------Friendlies Latvia ------Netherlands ------Total Latvia - - - - 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 9 Netherlands 1 1 0 0 - - - - 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 9 0 * FIFA World Cup/FIFA Confederations Cup

2 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Match background

Having lost heavily in both of their previous encounters with the Netherlands, Latvia will look to at least get their first goal against the Oranje as the sides reconvene in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group A. Previous meetings • The Netherlands beat Latvia 6-0 in Amsterdam in November – a rare celebration in what has been a difficult campaign for the Oranje. • In their only previous encounter, 's Netherlands beat ' Latvia 3-0 in Braga in the Baltic nation's final UEFA EURO 2004 game – the heaviest defeat of what remains their only finals campaign to date. • The teams for that match on 23 June 2004 were: Netherlands: Van der Sar, Reiziger, Stam, Van Bronckhorst, Cocu, Van der Meyde (Overmars 63), Davids (Sneijder 77), Van Nistelrooy (Makaay 70), , Robben, Seedorf. Latvia: Koļinko, Stepanovs, Astafjevs, Zemļinskis, Blagonadeždins, Isakovs, Bleidelis (Štolcers 83), Verpakovskis (Pahars 62), Rubins, Prohorenkovs (Laizāns 74), Lobaņovs. Form guide • Latvia have yet to win a Group A game but earned encouraging draws against Turkey (1-1 at home) and the Czech Republic (1-1 away). • The Netherlands are five points adrift of the top two in Group A, having won just two of their five Group A matches. They have lost both of their away fixtures in the section. Trivia and links • Netherlands defender turns 24 the day after the Latvia game. • Latvia's Artjoms Rudņevs and the Netherlands' are club-mates at Hamburger SV. • has scored 49 international goals. • The Netherlands have won all eight of the nations' meetings in UEFA age-group competitions, most recently beating Latvia 2-1 in Belgium in a 2012 Under-17 qualifier. • In six UEFA meetings between the nations' clubs, the Dutch sides' record is W4 D1 L1, with 26 goals scored and four conceded. That lone Latvian victory was a 3-2 success for SK Liepājas Metalurgs at home against in the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup. Heerenveen won the return fixture 6-1.

3 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Squad list

Latvia Current season Qual. FT No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Aleksandrs Koļinko 18/06/1975 39 Baltika - 4 0 0 0 - Andris Vaņins 30/04/1980 35 Sion - 1 0 0 0 Górnik - Pāvels Šteinbors 21/09/1985 29 - 0 0 0 0 Zabrze Defenders - Kaspars Gorkšs 06/11/1981 33 Ergotelis * 5 0 0 0 - Vladislavs Gabovs 13/07/1987 27 Sokol - 4 0 0 0 - Gints Freimanis 09/05/1985 30 Jelgava - 3 0 0 0 - Kaspars Dubra 20/12/1990 24 BATE - 4 0 0 0 - Aleksejs Višņakovs 03/02/1984 31 Skonto - 4 1 0 0 - Jurijs Žigajevs 14/11/1985 29 Ventspils - 1 0 0 0 - Aleksandrs Fertovs 16/06/1987 27 Korona - 5 0 0 0 - Artis Lazdiņš 03/05/1986 29 Jelgava - 1 0 0 0 - Igors Tarasovs 16/10/1988 26 Jagiellonia - 1 0 0 0 - Vitālijs Maksimenko 08/12/1990 24 VVV - 2 0 0 0 - Artūrs Zjuzins 18/06/1991 23 Baltika * 4 0 0 0 - Alans Siņeļņikovs 14/05/1990 25 Ventspils - 0 0 0 0 - Vitālijs Jagodinskis 28/02/1992 23 Hoverla - 0 0 0 0 Spartaks - Daniils Ulimbaševs 12/03/1992 23 - 0 0 0 0 Jūrmala - Jānis Ikaunieks 16/02/1995 20 Metz - 3 0 0 0 Forwards - Eduards Višņakovs 10/05/1990 25 Ruch - 4 0 0 0 - Artūrs Karašausks 29/01/1992 23 Skonto - 0 0 0 0 - Deniss Rakels 20/08/1992 22 Cracovia - 2 0 0 0 - Valērijs Šabala 12/10/1994 20 Jablonec - 5 1 0 0 Coach - 05/08/1976 38 - 5 0 0 0

4 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga

Netherlands Current season Qual. FT No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - 10/01/1986 29 - 0 0 0 0 - 03/04/1988 27 Newcastle - 0 0 0 0 - 22/04/1989 26 Ajax - 5 0 0 0 Defenders - 03/02/1988 27 Paris - 4 0 0 0 - 22/07/1989 25 Newcastle - 1 0 0 0 - 05/02/1992 23 Lazio - 5 1 0 0 - 13/11/1991 23 PSV - 1 1 0 0 - 08/02/1992 23 Porto - 4 0 0 0 - 02/12/1994 20 Man. City - 0 0 0 0 - 30/03/1994 21 PSV - 2 0 0 0 Midfielders - 09/06/1984 31 Galatasaray - 5 0 0 0 - 11/11/1990 24 PSV - 3 0 0 0 - 09/03/1990 25 Man. United - 5 0 0 0 - 27/06/1991 23 Feyenoord - 1 0 0 0 Spartak - 04/01/1992 23 - 1 0 0 0 Moskva Forwards - Robin van Persie 06/08/1983 31 Man. United - 4 2 0 0 - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 12/08/1983 31 Schalke - 4 4 0 0 Dynamo - 24/11/1987 27 - 2 0 0 0 Kyiv - 13/09/1990 24 PSV - 2 0 0 0 - 27/08/1990 24 PSV - 0 0 0 0 - 19/12/1991 23 AZ - 0 0 0 0 - 13/02/1994 21 PSV - 3 0 0 0 Coach - 08/11/1946 68 - 5 0 0 0

5 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Head coach Marians Pahars Date of birth: 5 August 1976 Nationality: Latvian Playing career: FK Pārdaugava, Skonto Metall FC, Skonto FC (twice), Southampton FC, Anorthosis Famagusta FC, FC Jūrmala Coaching career: Skonto FC, Latvia Under-21s, Latvia • Born in the village of Chornobai in central Ukraine, he moved to Latvia – his parents' homeland – while young and undertook his football education in Riga before making his senior debut at Skonto in 1995. He won the league title in each of his first four seasons, and the double in three of them. • Transferred to English outfit Southampton in 1999, where the diminutive forward became a firm fans' favourite. Known as the 'Latvian Owen' after England striker , he spent seven successful years with the Saints, despite a succession of injuries. • After a year with Anorthosis, lifting the Cypriot Cup, Pahars returned to Latvia and Skonto, ending his career at Jūrmala in 2009. He accepted a role as assistant to Aleksandrs Starkovs at Skonto the following year. • Skonto claimed the 2010 championship and Pahars replaced Starkovs at the helm the next year. His first term in the hot seat brought the Latvian Cup and a runners-up finish in the First Division, though Pahars soon left as Skonto were suffering off-the-pitch problems. • Pahars was out of football for just two months before taking charge of Latvia's U21 side. His tenure lasted a solitary game as Starkovs' unexpected decision to step down as senior team boss last summer prompted the younger man's immediate promotion on a contract until 2018. Guus Hiddink Date of birth: 8 November 1946 Nationality: Dutch Playing career: SC Varsseveld, (three times), PSV , , San Jose Earthquakes, NEC Nijmegen Coaching career: De Graafschap, PSV Eindhoven (assistant), PSV Eindhoven (twice), Fenerbahçe SK, Valencia CF, Netherlands (twice), Real CF, Balompié, Korea Republic, Australia, Russia, Chelsea FC, Turkey, FC Anji Makhachkala • Hiddink ended his playing days and began his coaching career at De Graafschap in 1982. Rose to prominence in 1987/88 when, in his first full season in charge, he guided PSV Eindhoven to the , Dutch Cup and European Champion Clubs' Cup. • Remained for two more years before moving abroad to coach Fenerbahçe and then Valencia, where he remained until taking the Dutch national team job in 1995. Stayed on despite disappointing EURO '96 and oversaw run to 1998 FIFA World Cup semi-finals. • Joined new European champions Real Madrid after that tournament but departed soon afterwards. Resurfaced at Real Betis a year later, yet it was his next appointment, as Korea Republic coach, which reaffirmed his reputation as he unexpectedly led the 2002 World Cup co-hosts to the semi-finals. • Returned for a second spell at PSV, where he won three more Eredivisie titles over the next four years, taking his total at the club to a record six. Also pushed AC Milan all the way in 2005 UEFA Champions League semi-final. • Returned to World Cup duty in 2006, steering Australia through to the last 16. Subsequently became the first foreign coach of Russia, whom he led to UEFA EURO 2008 semi-finals but not to the 2010 World Cup after a shock play-off defeat by Slovenia. Enjoyed a successful interim spell as caretaker coach of Chelsea in spring 2009, climaxing with victory in the FA Cup, and signed on with Turkey in February 2010. • Lost to Croatia in the UEFA EURO 2012 play-offs, then took an 18-month role as boss of Anzhi Makhachkala FC, leading the team to the 2012/13 UEFA Europa League round of 16. In March 2014 it was confirmed that he would succeed as Netherlands coach following the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

6 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Match officials

Referee Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR) Assistant referees Frank Andås (NOR) , Tom Harald Grønevik (NOR) Additional assistant referees Ken Henry Johnsen (NOR) , Svein-Erik Edvartsen (NOR) Fourth official Sven Erik Midthjell (NOR) UEFA Delegate Teuvo Holopainen (FIN) UEFA Referee observer Markus Nobs (SUI)

Referee UEFA EURO Name Date of birth UEFA matches matches Svein Oddvar Moen 22/01/1979 6 77

Svein Oddvar Moen Referee since: 1996 First division: 2004 FIFA badge: 2005

Tournaments: 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, 2012 Olympic Games, 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, 2005 UEFA European Under-17 Championship

Finals 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup

UEFA European Championship matches featuring the two countries involved in this match Stage Date Competition Home Away Result Venue reached 17/11/2007 EURO QR Latvia Liechtenstein 4-1 Riga 29/03/2011 EURO QR Netherlands Hungary 5-3 Amsterdam

Other matches involving teams from either of the two countries involved in this match Stage Date Competition Home Away Result Venue reached 05/05/2005 U17 GS-FT Switzerland Netherlands 0-0 San Giuliano Terme 19/06/2005 UIC R1 Bangor City FC FC Dinaburg 1-2 Rhyl 17/11/2007 EURO QR Latvia Liechtenstein 4-1 Riga 06/11/2008 UEL GS Feyenoord PFC CSKA Moskva 1-3 19/08/2010 UEL PO Celtic FC FC Utrecht 2-0 Glasgow 29/03/2011 EURO QR Netherlands Hungary 5-3 Amsterdam 30/08/2012 UEL PO AZ Alkmaar FC Anji Makhachkala 0-5 Alkmaar 24/10/2012 UCL GS AFC Ajax Manchester City FC 3-1 Amsterdam 18/09/2013 UCL GS FC Barcelona AFC Ajax 4-0 Barcelona 03/04/2014 UEL QF AZ Alkmaar SL Benfica 0-1 Alkmaar

7 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Competition facts

8 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Match-by-match lineups Latvia

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Kazakhstan 0-0 Latvia Latvia: Koļinko, Maksimenko, Bulvitis, Laizāns, Gabovs, Kovaļovs, Šabala, Gorkšs, Lazdiņš (27 Fertovs), Rudņevs (79 E. Višņakovs), Zjuzins Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Latvia 0-3 Iceland Goals: 0-1 G. Sigurdsson 66, 0-2 A. Gunnarsson 77, 0-3 Gíslason 90 Latvia: Koļinko, Morozs, Bulvitis, Dubra, Gabovs, Kovaļovs (81 A. Višņakovs), Šabala (81 E. Višņakovs), Gorkšs, Rugins (63 Freimanis), Rudņevs, Fertovs Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Latvia 1-1 Turkey Goals: 0-1 Bilal Kisa 47, 1-1 Šabala 54 (P) Latvia: Koļinko, Dubra, A. Višņakovs, Gabovs (38 Freimanis), Ikaunieks, Šabala, E. Višņakovs (80 Rakels), Gorkšs, Zjuzins (83 Morozs), Fertovs, Kurakins Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Netherlands 6-0 Latvia Goals: 1-0 Van Persie 6, 2-0 Robben 35, 3-0 Huntelaar 42, 4-0 Bruma 78, 5-0 Robben 82, 6-0 Huntelaar 89 Latvia: Koļinko, Dubra, Gabovs, Šabala, E. Višņakovs (70 Rudņevs), Gorkšs, Ikaunieks (46 Laizāns), Zjuzins (54 Cauņa), Fertovs, Kurakins, A. Višņakovs Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Czech Republic 1-1 Latvia Goals: 0-1 A. Višņakovs 30, 1-1 Pilař 90 Latvia: Vaņins, Maksimenko, Dubra, Laizāns (66 Ikaunieks), A. Višņakovs (82 Fertovs), Šabala, Gorkšs, Rakels, Tarasovs, Zjuzins (87 Žigajevs), Freimanis Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Latvia-Netherlands Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Turkey-Latvia Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Latvia-Czech Republic Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Iceland-Latvia Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Latvia-Kazakhstan Netherlands

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (09/09/2014) Czech Republic 2-1 Netherlands Goals: 1-0 Dočkal 22, 1-1 De Vrij 55, 2-1 Pilař 90+1 Netherlands: Cillessen, Janmaat, Veltman (39 Narsingh), De Vrij, Martins Indi, N. De Jong, Wijnaldum, Blind, Van Persie, Sneijder, Depay Matchday 2 (10/10/2014) Netherlands 3-1 Kazakhstan Goals: 0-1 Abdulin 17, 1-1 Huntelaar 62, 2-1 Afellay 82, 3-1 Van Persie 89 (P) Netherlands: Cillessen, Van der Wiel, De Vrij, Martins Indi (81 Fer), Blind, N. De Jong (56 Huntelaar), Lens, Afellay, Van Persie, Sneijder, Robben

9 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga

Matchday 3 (13/10/2014) Iceland 2-0 Netherlands Goals: 1-0 G. Sigurdsson 10 (P) , 2-0 G. Sigurdsson 42 Netherlands: Cillessen, Van der Wiel, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind, N. De Jong, Lens (68 Promes), Afellay (78 Fer), Van Persie, Sneijder (46 Huntelaar), Robben Matchday 4 (16/11/2014) Netherlands 6-0 Latvia Goals: 1-0 Van Persie 6, 2-0 Robben 35, 3-0 Huntelaar 42, 4-0 Bruma 78, 5-0 Robben 82, 6-0 Huntelaar 89 Netherlands: Cillessen, Van der Wiel, Bruma, De Vrij, Willems, Blind (20 Clasie), Afellay (69 Depay), Sneijder, Huntelaar, Van Persie (79 Wijnaldum), Robben Matchday 5 (28/03/2015) Netherlands 1-1 Turkey Goals: 0-1 Burak Yılmaz 37, 1-1 Huntelaar 90+2 Netherlands: Cillessen, Van der Wiel, De Vrij, Martins Indi (77 Willems), Blind, N. De Jong (63 Dost), Afellay, Wijnaldum (46 Narsingh), Huntelaar, Sneijder, Depay Matchday 6 (12/06/2015) Latvia-Netherlands Matchday 7 (03/09/2015) Netherlands-Iceland Matchday 8 (06/09/2015) Turkey-Netherlands Matchday 9 (10/10/2015) Kazakhstan-Netherlands Matchday 10 (13/10/2015) Netherlands-Czech Republic

10 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Team facts

UEFA European Championship records: Latvia History 2012 – did not qualify 2008 – did not qualify 2004 – group stage 2000 – did not qualify 1996 – did not qualify EURO final tournament win N/A EURO final tournament loss 3-0: Netherlands v Latvia, 23/06/04 Qualifying win 4-0: Latvia v Iceland, 07/10/06 EURO qualifying loss 6-0: Netherlands v Latvia, 16/11/14 Final tournament appearances 3: Vitālijs Astafjevs 3: Oļegs Blagonadeždins 3: 3: 3: Aleksandrs Koļinko 3: Juris Laizāns 3: Valentīns Lobaņovs 3: Marians Pahars 3: Andrejs Prohorenkovs 3: 3: 3: Māris Verpakovskis 3: Mihails Zemļinskis Final tournament goals 1: Māris Verpakovskis Overall appearances 43: Vitālijs Astafjevs 34: Imants Bleidelis 33: Juris Laizāns 33: Andrejs Rubins 32: Māris Verpakovskis Overall goals 14: Māris Verpakovskis 5: Vīts Rimkus 5: Juris Laizāns 4: Aleksandrs Cauņa 4: Aleksejs Višņakovs 3: Vitālijs Astafjevs 3: Imants Bleidelis 3: Kaspars Gorkšs 3: Marians Pahars 3: Andrejs Štolcers 3: Armands Zeiberlins

UEFA European Championship records: Netherlands History 2012 – group stage 2008 – quarter-finals

11 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga

2004 – semi-finals 2000 – semi-finals 1996 – quarter-finals 1992 – semi-finals 1988 – winners 1984 – did not qualify 1980 – group stage 1976 – third place 1972 – did not qualify 1968 – did not qualify 1964 – did not qualify 1960 – did not participate Final tournament win 6-1: Netherlands v Yugoslavia, 25/06/00 Final tournament loss 1-4: Netherlands v England, 18/06/96 Qualifying win 11-0: Netherlands v , 02/09/11 Qualifying loss 4-1: Poland v Netherlands, 10/09/75 Final tournament appearances 16: 13: 13: 12: 11: Final tournament goals 6: 6: 5: 4: Dennis Bergkamp Overall appearances 37: Edwin van der Sar 33: Wesley Sneijder 32: Rafael van der Vaart 31: Frank de Boer 29: 29: Overall goals 18: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 16: Marco van Basten 15: Ruud van Nistelrooy 14: Robin van Persie 13: Patrick Kluivert 12: 11: Ruud Gullit

12 Latvia - Netherlands Friday 12 June 2015 - 20.45CET (21.45 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Legend

:: Previous meetings

Goals for/against: Goal totals include the outcome of disciplinary decisions (e.g. match forfeits when a 3-0 result is determined). Goals totals do not include goals scored during a penalty shoot-out after a tie ended in a draw

:: Squad list

Qual.: Total European Qualifiers appearances/goals for UEFA EURO 2020 only. FT: Total UEFA EURO 2020 appearances/goals in final tournament only. Overall: Total international appearances/goals. DoB: Date of birth Age: Based on the date press kit was last updated D: Disciplinary (*: misses next match if booked, S: suspended)

:: Team facts

EURO finals: The UEFA European Championship was a four-team event in 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 (when the preliminary round and quarter-finals were considered part of qualifying).

From 1980 it was expanded to an eight-team finals and remained in that format in 1984, 1988 and 1992 until 1996, when the 16-team format was adopted. UEFA EURO 2016 was the first tournament to be played as a 24-team finals.

Records of inactive countries A number of UEFA associations have been affected by dissolution or splits of member associations. For statistical purposes, the records of these inactive countries have been allocated elsewhere: therefore, all Soviet Union matches are awarded to Russia; all West Germany – but not East Germany – matches are awarded to Germany; all Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro matches are awarded to Serbia; all Czechoslovakia matches are allocated to both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Abandoned/forfeited matches For statisical purposes, when a match has been started and then abandoned but later forfeited, the result on the pitch at the time of abandonment is counted. Matches that never started and were either cancelled or forfeited are not included in the overall statistics. Competitions Other abbreviations (aet): After extra time pens: Penalties No.: Number og: Own goal ag: Match decided on away goals P: Penalty agg: Aggregate Pld: Matches played AP: Appearances Pos.: Position Comp.: Competition Pts: Points D: Drawn R: Sent off (straight red card) DoB: Date of birth Res.: Result ET: Extra Time sg: Match decided by silver goal GA: Goals against t: Match decided by toss of a coin GF: Goals for W: Won gg: Match decided by golden goal Y: Booked L: Lost Y/R: Sent off (two yellow cards) Nat.: Nationality N/A: Not applicable Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. More information can be found in the competition regulations available on UEFA.com.

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