Euro 2004 Teams : Group D

Czech Republic*

Unbeaten in their qualifying group and one of the four seeded teams in the competition much is expected of the resurgent Czechs. After missing out on World Cup 2002 and not getting beyond the group stage at Euro 2000 the Czechs have certainly bounced back. Coach Karel Bruckner has had his contract extended until 2006 as a reward for his team's qualification and the the Dutch will hold no fears for Bruckner's well-balanced team. A handful of the players who made it to the final of Euro 96 still remain: veterans Karel Poborsky (no longer a Noddy Holder look-alike and now playing his football back in the Czech Republic), Liverpool’s Vladimir Smicer and captain Pavel Nedved. Up front there’s man-mountain Jan Koller and Milan Baros – if he recovers in time from injury. In the 'Group of Death' much will depend though on Juventus star Nedved staying fit and the enigmatic (read: inconsistent) Tomas Rosicky producing his best form.

Fixtures

Czech Republic v Latvia 15 June 19:45 KO; Estádio Municipal de Aveiro
Czech Republic v Holland 19 June19:45 KO; Estádio Municipal de Aveiro
Czech Republic v Germany 23 June; 19:45 KO; Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon

Coaches: Karel Bruckner.

Record: As the then-Czechoslovakia winners in 1976 and finalists at Euro 96.

FIFA Ranking

Men to watch: Captain and inspiration Juve's Pavel Nedved.

Predictions & Latest Odds: Squeezed out in the group stage. 14/1 Betting

Qualifying Results

On the sidelines: Antonín Panenka's chipped penalty won the 1976 European championship for Czechoslavakia back in 1976 in the shoot-out with West Germany.

The Squad (Official Squad List)

Goalkeepers
Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague)
Petr Cech (Rennes)
Antonin Kinsky (Ramenskoye)
Defenders
Rene Bolf (Banik Ostrava)
Zdenek Grygera (Ajax Amsterdam)
Tomas Hubschmann (Sparta Prague)
Marek Jankulovski (Udine)
Martin Jiranek (Reggina)
Pavel Mares (St. Petersburg)
David Rozehnal (Brugge)
Tomas Ujfalusi (Hamburger SV)
Midfielders
Tomas Galasek (Ajax Amsterdam)
Pavel Nedved (Juventus)
Jaroslav Plasil (AS Monaco)
Karel Poborsky (Sparta Prague)
Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund)
Vladimir Smicer (Liverpool)
Roman Tyce (Munich 1860)
Stepan Vachousek (Marseille)
Forwards
Milan Baros (Liverpool)
Marek Heinz (Banik Ostrava)
Jan Koller (Borussia Dormund)
Vratislav Lokvenc (Kaiserslautern)

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Latvia

Maris Verpakovskis is now a national hero in Latvia. Every school child in Riga worships him. Look for a post-Portugal transfer to England. The rest of the team, however, are virtual unknowns, though Igor Stepanovs and Marians Pahars will be familiar to Premiership fans of Arsenal and Southampton. All but a few of the players earn their living outside of Latvia or Russia with a scattering plying their trade in Denmark or Austria. Nevertheless, the Latvians showed great character to came back from two down in Istanbul to tie the Turks in the second leg of a playoff, thus booking their first ever trip to a European championship. A miracle if ever there was one. They have nothing to lose. Expect excitement on the pitch.

Fixtures

Latvia v Czech Republic 15 June 19:45 KO; Estádio Municipal de Aveiro
Latvia v Germany 19 June 17:00 KO; Estádio do Bessa, Porto
Latvia v Holland 23 June 19:45 KO; Estádio Municipal de Braga

Coach: Aleksandrs Starkovs

Record: First time qualifiers.

FIFA Ranking

Men to watch: That man again - Maris Verpakovskis.

Predictions & Latest Odds: Changes of progessing from the group - somewhere between zero and nil. 150/1 Betting

Qualifying Results

On the sidelines: The 2003 Latvian Cup Final won by Ventspils 4-0 over Skonto Riga attracted a crowd of 4,500.

The Squad (Official Squad List)

Goalkeepers
Alexander Kolinko (Rostov)
Andrejs Piedels (Skonto)
Andris Vanins (Torpedo-Metallurg) Russia
Defenders
Olegs Blagonadezdins (Skonto FC)
Aleksandrs Isakovs (Skonto FC)
Igors Korablovs (FK Ventspils)
Maris Smirnovs (FK Ventspils)
Igors Stepanovs (Beveren)
Arturs Zakresevskis (Skonto FC)
Mihails Zemlinskis (Skonto FC)
Dzintars Zirnis (FHK Liepajas Metalurgs)
Midfielders
Vitalijs Astafjevs (Herold Admira)
Kristaps Blanks (Skonto FC)
Imants Bleidelis (Viborg)
Vladimirs Kolesnicenko (Torpedo Metalurg)
Juris Laizans (CSKA Moskva)
Valentins Lobanovs (Metalurg Zaporizhya)
Jurgis Pucinsks (Luch-Energia)
Andrejs Rubins (Shinnik)
Igors Semjonovs (Skonto FC)
Andrejs Stolcers (Fulham)
Forwards
Viktors Dobrecovs (FHK Liepajas Metalurgs)
Gatis Kalnins (Skonto FC)
Mihails Miholaps (Skonto FC)
Marians Pahars (Southampton)
Andrejs Prohorenkovs (Maccabi Tel-Aviv)
Vits Rimkus (FK Ventspils)
Maris Verpakovskis (Dynamo Kyiv)

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Germany

Despite reaching the 2002 World Cup final Germany are no longer the football superpower they once were. They struggled to overcome Scotland and even had a scare against the Faroe Islands in qualifying. Playing 3-5-2 the Germans are hard to beat but lack real pace and creativity in midfield. However their record in this competition is second to none, having reached the final five times out of the ten the competition has been held. Coach Rudi Voller will look to Michael Ballack to supply the flair in midfield and Kevin Kuranyi and Fredi Bobic the cutting edge in attack in the continued absence through injury of Bayern's Sebastian Diesler.

Fixtures

Germany v Holland 15 June 17:00 KO; Estádio das Antas, Porto
Germany v Latvia 19 June; 17:00 KO; Estádio do Bessa, Porto
Germany v Czech Republic 23 June 19:45 KO; Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon

Coach: Rudi Voller.

Record: Champions in 1972, 1980 (as West Germany) and 1996; losing finalists in 1976 and 1992. Qualified in 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000

FIFA Ranking

Men to watch: Stuttgart's Kevin Kuranyi and Oliver Kahn, of course.

Predictions & Latest Odds: Should make it out of the group with Holland but maybe that is the end of the road. 16/1 Betting

Qualifying Results

On the sidelines: Rudi Voller has taken a hammering in the German press from former stars Franz Beckenbauer, Gunther Netzer and Paul Breitner.

The Squad (Official Squad List)

Goalkeepers
Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich)
Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)
Timo Hildebrand (VfB Stuttgart)
Defenders
Frank Baumann (Werder Bremen)
Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin)
Andreas Hinkel (VfB Stuttgart),
Philipp Lahm (VfB Stuttgart),
Jens Nowotny (Bayer Leverkusen)
Christian Woerns (Borussia Dortmund)
Christian Ziege (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Midfielders
Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich)
Fabian Ernst (Werder Bremen)
Torsten Frings (Borussia Dortmund)
Dietmar Hamann (Liverpool, England)
Jens Jeremies (Bayern Munich)
Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund)
Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Forwards
Fredi Bobic (Hertha Berlin)
Thomas Brdaric (Hanover 96)
Kevin Kuranyi (VfB Stuttgart)
Miroslav Klose (Kaiserslautern)
Lukas Podolski (Cologne)

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Holland

The inventors and perhaps still best practitioners of Total Football—some in France might argue this point—the Dutch are the purist’s favorite. The Oranje play arguably the most beautiful football in the world. Dutch defenders go forward as well as many forwards from other countries; their skill on the ball is second to none; the passing is a joy to behold. From Cruyff to van Basten, Gullit to Bergkamp, Rijkaard to Davids, the Dutch have consistently produced world-class players and been among the most pleasing sides to watch in the last 30 years. In Ruud van Nistelrooy, they have one of the premier strikers in the world. The Manchester United forward scored a hat trick to end the hopes of Scotland in a November playoff. He is supported by 19-year-old Wesley Sneijder and a cast of the very best from European leagues.
However, two large and perennial problems confront Dutch hopes: internal bickering and, as noted above, having players scattered around Europe—i.e., away from Holland. The Dutch have been notorious for factionalism and self-destructing off the field. Race problems, conflicts between iron-willed coaches and prima donna players have found their way on to the pitch. Will Holland be able to overcome these or not? If they do, the Dutch clearly have the talent to win Euro 2004.

Fixtures

Holland v Germany 15 June 17:00 KO; Estádio das Antas, Porto
Holland v Czech Republic 19 June 19:45 KO; Estádio Municipal de Aveiro
Holland v Latvia 23 June 19:45 KO; Estádio Municipal de Braga

Coach: Dik Advocaat.

Record: Joint hosts in 2000 and won the Final in 1988 beating Russia 2-0.

FIFA Ranking

Men to watch: Ruud van Nistelrooy and 19-year-old phenom Wesley Sneijder.

Predictions & Latest Odds: Have a great chance to win but we think they won't. Semi-finalists. 8/1 Betting

Qualifying Results

On the sidelines: Ruud van Nistelrooy and Patrick Kluivert apparently don't see eye-to-eye over Kluivert's post-match partying.

The Squad (Official Squad List)

Goalkeepers
Edwin van der Sar (Fulham)
Ronald Waterreus (PSV Eindhoven)
Sander Westerveld (Real Sociedad)
Defenders
Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven)
Jaap Stam (Lazio)
Frank de Boer (Glasgow Rangers)
Giovanni Bronckhorst (Barcelona)
John Heitinga (Ajax)
Michael Reiziger (Barcelona)
Midfielders
Paul Bosvelt (Manchester City)
Phillip Cocu (Barcelona)
Edgar Davis (Barcelona)
Boudewijn Zenden (Middlesborough)
Rafael van der Vaart (Ajax)
Clarence Seedorf (Milan)
Marc Overmars (Barcelona)
Wesley Sneijder (Ajax)
Andy van der Meyde (Inter)
Forwards
Patrick Kluivert (Barcelona)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United)
Wesley Sneidjer (Ajax)
Roy Makaay (Bayern Munich)
Pierre van Hooijdonk (Fenerbahce)
Arjen Robben (PSV Eindhoven)

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