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The Latvian national team has reached the European Football Championship for the first time. On Tuesday, our neighbors will face the Czech Republic in the 2004 European Football Championship. Despite the fact that the draw gave Latvia very strong opponents in Group D - the Netherlands, Germany, and the Czech Republic, Latvia's national team coach Aleksandrs Starkovs expects a good performance from his team in the first match in Aveiro: "We will not be favorites in any of the group matches, but in the match against the Czechs, we set ourselves the goal to play on equal terms or win. Only then will we be satisfied. We have our advantages and we will demonstrate them." "We are preparing for the championship in Portugal with great enthusiasm," continued Starkovs. "I still don't know who will play. I am still looking for the optimal lineup, but it certainly doesn't worry me. Everything is going according to plan." Starkovs was in good spirits after hearing that the team captain, goalkeeper, and defender had fully recovered from minor injuries. So now Latvia is in the strongest lineup. "Everyone is healthy and in great spirits. We have a big appetite," added the coach.
