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They really belong

AFP, Lisbon
Latvia were arguably the most surprising qualifiers for Euro 2004 but the Baltic state showed they were worthy of one of the 16 places holding three-time European champions Germany to a 0-0 draw here on Saturday.
It was the finest moment in Latvian football history with their first point in a major tournament met with enthusiastic applause by their noisy contingent of fans.
Latvia, with a population of just 2.4 million, are firmly on the football map and the ice hockey-mad nation now has a new sport to follow.
"This is a historic result and brings great pleasure to our fans," enthused coach Aleksandrs
Starkovs.
"To hold Germany is a real achievement but I have confidence in my players."
Latvia defeated 2002 World Cup semi-finalists Turkey in the playoffs to reach the finals and showed that was no fluke against Euro 96 winners Germany.
"We neutralised the German wingers with our defenders and goalkeeper outstanding," added Starkovs.
"I thought the game against the Czech Republic was harder as Germany were one dimensional."
Minnows Latvia now face the Netherlands in the final Group D match and have an outside chance of reaching the last eight if they can defeat the Dutch and results go their way.
"It is ironic that the group now hinges on us," said 48-year-old Starkovs. "I want a good result against the Dutch now."
Starkovs has managed to blend a host of players that flopped in England into a strong team unit and insisted he has complete belief in his stars.
"Stepanovs, Kolinko and Rubins did not have the best of times in England but I am not going to say how I get the best out of them," said Starkovs.
"That is how I keep my job."
Igors Stepanovs played just 19 Premiership matches in three years before being loaned out to Belgian side Beveren where he plays alongside more often than not 10 Ivory Coast players.
Goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko and Andrejs Rubins failed to live up to expectations at Crystal Palace with the guardian being sacked by then manager Trevor Francis for laughing while sitting on the substitutes bench when the team conceded a goal. If Latvia are to pull another shock off against the Dutch they will need 24-year-old star striker Maris Verpakovskis at his best like he was against Germany.
"The run by Maris was unbelievable I have not seen anything like that in the tournament," lauded Starkovs.
In the first half Verpakovskis turned brillainty by the centre circle before accelerating past two defenders only to see a tame shot saved by Oliver Kahn.
Even German national coach Rudi Voller, a prolific striker himself, found time to single out the fleet-footed target-man.
"He is unbelievably quick," said Voller. "He was their best player tonight but we knew he was the danger man beforehand."