EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS - 2014/16 SEASON MATCH PRESS KITS Skonto Stadions - Riga Sunday 6 September 2015 18.00CET (19.00 local time) Latvia Group A - Matchday -5 Czech Republic Last updated 12/07/2021 17:58CET Official Partners of UEFA EURO 2020 Previous meetings 2 Match background 3 Squad list 4 Head coach 6 Match officials 7 Competition facts 8 Match-by-match lineups 9 Team facts 11 Legend 13 1 Latvia - Czech Republic Sunday 6 September 2015 - 18.00CET (19.00 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Previous meetings Head to Head 2016 UEFA European Championship Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached 28/03/2015 QR (GS) Czech Republic - Latvia 1-1 Prague Pilař 90; Višņakovs 30 UEFA EURO 2004 Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Baroš 73, Heinz 85; 15/06/2004 GS-FT Czech Republic - Latvia 2-1 Aveiro Verpakovskis 45+1 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 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 2 3 Czech Republic 1 0 1 0 - - - - 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 3 2 FIFA* Latvia - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Czech Republic - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Friendlies Latvia - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 0 0 1 1 4 Czech Republic - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0 0 4 1 Total Latvia - - - - 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 3 0 1 2 3 7 Czech Republic 1 0 1 0 - - - - 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 0 7 3 * FIFA World Cup/FIFA Confederations Cup 2 Latvia - Czech Republic Sunday 6 September 2015 - 18.00CET (19.00 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Match background The Czech Republic know a win in Latvia could confirm their place at UEFA EURO 2016, provided the Netherlands do not beat Turkey elsewhere in Group A. • The following players are a yellow card away from a ban: Borek Dockal, David Limberský (Czech Republic), Kaspars Gorkšs, Valērijs Šabala, Eduards Višņakovs and Artūrs Zjuzins (Latvia). Previous meetings • On 28 March Václav Pilař equalised in the last minute in Prague after Aleksejs Višņakovs had put Latvia ahead, the resulting 1-1 draw nonetheless an impressive scoreline for the visitors. • It was the first time Latvia had avoided defeat in four meetings with the Czech Republic. • They first faced off at the finals of UEFA EURO 2004, Karel Brückner's Czechs beating Aleksandrs Starkovs's Latvia 2-1 in Aveiro thanks to a late Marek Heinz goal. • The teams for that game on 15 June 2004 were: Czech Republic: Čech*, Grygera (Heinz 56), Galásek (Šmicer 64), Bolf, Jankulovski, Poborský, Koller, Rosický*, Nedvěd, Baroš (Jiránek 87), Ujfaluši. Latvia: Koļinko*, Stepanovs, Astafjevs, Zemļinskis, Blagonadeždins, Isakovs, Bleidelis, Verpakovskis (Pahars 81), Rubins, Prohorenkovs (Laizāns 72), Lobaņovs (Rimkus 90). • Marians Pahars, a substitute in that match, is now Latvia coach. *have been selected for UEFA EURO 2016 games Form guide • Latvia are still without a win in three Group A home fixtures (D1 L2). • The Czechs were on a four-match competitive winning streak on the road prior to their 2-1 defeat in Iceland in their most recent Group A away game. • The Czech Republic have scored at least once in their last 11 competitive away fixtures since a 0-0 draw in Wales in June 2007. Trivia and links • Latvia forward Valērijs Šabala has played club football in the Czech Republic with FK Jablonec. He scored his side's late equaliser in Turkey in their last Group A game. 3 Latvia - Czech Republic Sunday 6 September 2015 - 18.00CET (19.00 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Squad list Latvia Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Andris Vaņins 30/04/1980 35 Sion - 3 0 0 0 66 - Nea - Pāvels Šteinbors 21/09/1985 29 - 0 0 0 0 - - Salamis - Kaspars Ikstens 05/06/1988 27 Jelgava - 0 0 0 0 - - Defenders - Kaspars Gorkšs 06/11/1981 33 Ergotelis * 6 0 0 0 69 5 - Vladislavs Gabovs 13/07/1987 28 Korona - 6 0 0 0 17 - - Gints Freimanis 09/05/1985 30 Jelgava - 4 0 0 0 5 - - Igors Tarasovs 16/10/1988 26 Jagiellonia - 3 0 0 0 8 - - Vladimirs Kamešs 28/10/1988 26 Pogoń - 0 0 0 0 11 1 - Antons Kurakins 01/01/1990 25 Hamilton - 2 0 0 0 6 - - Vitālijs Maksimenko 08/12/1990 24 Mattersburg - 4 0 0 0 16 1 - Kaspars Dubra 20/12/1990 24 BATE - 5 0 0 0 8 - Midfielders - Aleksejs Višņakovs 03/02/1984 31 Skonto - 6 1 0 0 59 8 - Oļegs Laizāns 28/03/1987 28 Ventspils - 4 0 0 0 26 - - Aleksandrs Fertovs 16/06/1987 28 Korona - 5 0 0 0 34 - - Igors Kozlovs 26/03/1987 28 Skonto - 0 0 0 0 - - CSKA - Aleksandrs Cauņa 19/01/1988 27 - 2 0 0 0 42 11 Moskva Gazovik - Artūrs Zjuzins 18/06/1991 24 * 6 0 0 0 23 2 Orenburg - Vitālijs Jagodinskis 28/02/1992 23 Hoverla - 2 0 0 0 4 - - Edgars Jermolajevs 16/06/1992 23 Skonto - 0 0 0 0 - - Forwards - Eduards Višņakovs 10/05/1990 25 Westerlo * 6 0 0 0 12 - - Artūrs Karašausks 29/01/1992 23 Skonto - 2 0 0 0 5 - - Deniss Rakels 20/08/1992 23 Cracovia - 4 0 0 0 10 - Club - Valērijs Šabala 12/10/1994 20 * 7 2 0 0 19 7 Brugge Coach - Marians Pahars 05/08/1976 39 - 8 0 0 0 19 - 4 Latvia - Czech Republic Sunday 6 September 2015 - 18.00CET (19.00 local time) Match press kit Skonto Stadions, Riga Czech Republic Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - Petr Čech 20/05/1982 33 Arsenal - 7 0 0 0 115 - - Tomáš Vaclík 29/03/1989 26 Basel - 0 0 0 0 3 - - Tomáš Koubek 26/08/1992 23 Liberec - 0 0 0 0 - - Defenders - Václav Procházka 08/05/1984 31 Plzeň - 6 0 0 0 11 - - Marek Suchý 29/03/1988 27 Basel - 1 0 0 0 21 - - David Limberský 06/10/1983 31 Plzeň * 6 0 0 0 33 - - Mario Holek 28/10/1986 28 Sparta Praha - 0 0 0 0 8 - - Theodor Gebre Selassie 24/12/1986 28 Bremen - 1 0 0 0 30 1 - Pavel Kadeřábek 25/04/1992 23 Hoffenheim - 6 1 0 0 9 1 - Filip Novák 26/06/1990 25 Midtjylland - 0 0 0 0 1 - - Tomáš Kalas 15/05/1993 22 Middlesbrough - 0 0 0 0 1 - Midfielders - Bořek Dočkal 30/09/1988 26 Sparta Praha * 7 4 0 0 18 6 - Daniel Kolář 27/10/1985 29 Plzeň - 2 0 0 0 24 2 Mladá - Jiří Skalák 12/03/1992 23 - 1 0 0 0 1 - Boleslav - Ladislav Krejčí 05/07/1992 23 Sparta Praha - 7 1 0 0 15 2 - David Pavelka 18/05/1991 24 Liberec - 1 0 0 0 1 - - Ondřej Vaněk 05/07/1990 25 Plzeň - 0 0 0 0 7 - - Jan Kopic 04/06/1990 25 Plzeň - 1 0 0 0 2 - - Vladimír Darida 08/08/1990 25 Hertha - 7 0 0 0 26 - - Martin Frýdek 24/03/1992 23 Sparta Praha - 0 0 0 0 - - Forwards - David Lafata 18/09/1981 33 Sparta Praha - 6 1 0 0 36 8 - Josef Šural 30/05/1990 25 Liberec - 1 0 0 0 2 - - Milan Škoda 16/01/1986 29 Slavia Praha - 2 2 0 0 2 2 Coach - Pavel Vrba 06/12/1963 51 - 8 0 0 0 13 - 5 Latvia - Czech Republic Sunday 6 September 2015 - 18.00CET (19.00 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 Premier League outfit Southampton in 1999, where the diminutive forward became a firm fans' favourite. Known as the 'Latvian Owen' after England striker Michael Owen, 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. Pavel Vrba Date of birth: 6 December 1963 Nationality: Czech Playing career: FC Baník Ostrava (twice), TJ Železárny Prostějov, RH Cheb, TJ Baník Havířov, FC Přerov Coaching career: FC Přerov, FC Baník Ostrava (youth, assistant), Czech Republic Under-20, FK Púchov, MŠK Žilina, Slovakia (assistant), FC Viktoria Plzeň, Czech Republic • The defender was part of the Czechoslovakia side that reached the final of the 1982 UEFA European Under-18 Championship and also appeared at the FIFA U-20 World Cup the following year; the Czechs lost in the quarter-finals to a Brazil team including Bebeto and Dunga.