Māris Verpakovskis now is the GM of Riga RFS club which is the ultra underdog in Europa league and recently tied 2:2 with Galatasaray. I don't know what is with us and the Turks, but we upset them often in football
Thanks so much for this, was great to re-live that tournament. I still remember the 2nd match against Turkey as one of my most emotinally-powerful sports-watching experiences ever - we watched it at our university projected on the big screen in an auditorium, and in all honesty, I don't think anyone remembers how the night finished after we went into the streets at full-time.
It is nice that you are speaking about Latvia. And I agree that there was a lot happening in Latvian direction in qualifying cycle for Euro2004. But it is wrong to say that Latvia was in nowhere in football. In one of the first games after gaining independence Latvian team draw Denmark (then European title holder) and also Spain. During the 90ties Latvia was not able to put a sustainable campaign but was a tuff opponent, for example in 1999 Greece played twice against Latvia - 0:0 and losing 3:1. So it is not so straightforward as you tell in the video. Also FC Skonto was not in nowhere - yes Skonto failed to quality for Europe tournaments but they often faced impossible tasks for example against Barcelona, Inter or Chelsea. It is also wrong to call this team 11vilki as this name is made in 2016. Also it is not correct to say that there was no players since Maris Verpakovskis who could play on similar level. Yes in the context of national team there was no such player. But Artjoms Rudnevs club record was on the similar level. So it is nice video but it is a bit misleading.
Don't really agree to the statement that Latvia became a punching bag immediately after Euro 2004. I clearly remember that few following qualifiers for Euro and WC were still very good. The WC2010 qualifiers were particularly good, realistically fighting for the top of the group, losing the lead against Switzerland late in the match and leading away in Greece after half time. Holding on in both of these matches would send Latvia directly to the finals or at least play-offs. That generation was amazing both before and after Euro 2004. The change of generations fucked it up completely.
In early 2000's Latvia had Marians Pahars (Southampton FC) and Igors Stepanovs (Arsenal FC) in Premier league, Maris Verpakovskis (Dynamo Kyiv) and others in Russian premier league. Now we have zero players in European top 10 leagues.
What made it even more impressive was that only 16 teams qualified for the Euros at the time. I was a college student and watched the games on my pc through a analog tv card. Verpakovskis came to be our most legendary player ever.
I remember watching the Germany match. Maris Verpakovskis almost scored one of the great Euros goals after dribbling past about 4 German players picking up the ball in his own half, only to shoot at Oliver Kahn. Agonising to come so close to scoring what would have been a fairy tale goal, although Latvia getting to Euro 2004 was already a fairy tale - you can't have it all alas.
There is an explanation why Latvian team of early 2000 was so good in defense: almost all players of that NT played at club under the same manager. It' s wild that You didn't mention the most bizarre fact about Latvian team of that time. The central figure in defense was EPL champion and member of Invincibles. Of course in almost all listings he is called the most undeserved EPL champion but still.
Cool video partially, but some facts are not correct. For example, highest place in FIFA rankings for Latvia was five years later, when they were 45th and had changes to qualify for World Cup 2010, lost decisive match against Greece for qualifying playoffs (Latvia was leading 2-1 after first half, but ended up losing 2-5), finished 3rd in the group, four points behind Switzerland, three points behind Greece. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_UEFA_Group_2 Big decline started afterwards. Also, about Latvian stars - Verpakovskis played for Dynamo Kyiv, Pahars is still legend in Southampton, so some players achieved something. P.S. Funny fact - Oliver Kahn, who was goalkeeper for Germany in Euro 2004, is quarter Latvian by ancestry, his grandmother married German Wermacht soldier and evacuated from Latvia in 1945 when Soviets were advancing.
@@McGman92 It's not that weird. Football is much easier to play anywhere without much equipment. You just need a ball. Both basketball and hockey need much more equipment. Besides culture plays a huge role
@@ThroneFC I agree-football is easy to play, and I used to enjoy playing it myself. But watching it... I don’t know... sometimes even track and field events are more exciting. But yes, culture plays a role and that's why maybe I won't understand football fans :D
Māris Verpakovskis now is the GM of Riga RFS club which is the ultra underdog in Europa league and recently tied 2:2 with Galatasaray. I don't know what is with us and the Turks, but we upset them often in football
3 cilveki bija uz laukuma no latvijas saja spele atceries to
@@RobertsApalais laipni lūgts klubu futbolā
@@kristapsvidzups1050 laipni lugts saprast ka latvija suka futbola
FC RFS, not ‘Riga RFS’ 🙄
@@BalticFootballNews Piepišās pie vārdiem, atrodi nākamreiz labāku iemeslu.
The 2004 Euros was my first euros I watched.I was rooting for Greece all the way.But it's a shame that Latvia didn't go far because of bad calls.
I wish I remembered that tournament vividly! Must have been to witness the greatest underdog win in an euro Championship
Thanks so much for this, was great to re-live that tournament. I still remember the 2nd match against Turkey as one of my most emotinally-powerful sports-watching experiences ever - we watched it at our university projected on the big screen in an auditorium, and in all honesty, I don't think anyone remembers how the night finished after we went into the streets at full-time.
It is nice that you are speaking about Latvia. And I agree that there was a lot happening in Latvian direction in qualifying cycle for Euro2004. But it is wrong to say that Latvia was in nowhere in football. In one of the first games after gaining independence Latvian team draw Denmark (then European title holder) and also Spain. During the 90ties Latvia was not able to put a sustainable campaign but was a tuff opponent, for example in 1999 Greece played twice against Latvia - 0:0 and losing 3:1. So it is not so straightforward as you tell in the video. Also FC Skonto was not in nowhere - yes Skonto failed to quality for Europe tournaments but they often faced impossible tasks for example against Barcelona, Inter or Chelsea.
It is also wrong to call this team 11vilki as this name is made in 2016.
Also it is not correct to say that there was no players since Maris Verpakovskis who could play on similar level. Yes in the context of national team there was no such player. But Artjoms Rudnevs club record was on the similar level.
So it is nice video but it is a bit misleading.
Don't really agree to the statement that Latvia became a punching bag immediately after Euro 2004. I clearly remember that few following qualifiers for Euro and WC were still very good. The WC2010 qualifiers were particularly good, realistically fighting for the top of the group, losing the lead against Switzerland late in the match and leading away in Greece after half time. Holding on in both of these matches would send Latvia directly to the finals or at least play-offs. That generation was amazing both before and after Euro 2004. The change of generations fucked it up completely.
I get your point, but it was clear that their defensive record dropped quite a lot
They simply were never as cohesive again
Great content, it's always great to hear about the stories that never were
In early 2000's Latvia had Marians Pahars (Southampton FC) and Igors Stepanovs (Arsenal FC) in Premier league, Maris Verpakovskis (Dynamo Kyiv) and others in Russian premier league. Now we have zero players in European top 10 leagues.
Latvia beating Turkey to qualify fpr the Euro 2004 was a great upset! This was a Turkey squad that went to the 2002 World Cup semis
What made it even more impressive was that only 16 teams qualified for the Euros at the time. I was a college student and watched the games on my pc through a analog tv card. Verpakovskis came to be our most legendary player ever.
Ikaunieks. miles ahead
Great video
Thank you🙏
I remember watching the Germany match. Maris Verpakovskis almost scored one of the great Euros goals after dribbling past about 4 German players picking up the ball in his own half, only to shoot at Oliver Kahn. Agonising to come so close to scoring what would have been a fairy tale goal, although Latvia getting to Euro 2004 was already a fairy tale - you can't have it all alas.
There is an explanation why Latvian team of early 2000 was so good in defense: almost all players of that NT played at club under the same manager.
It' s wild that You didn't mention the most bizarre fact about Latvian team of that time. The central figure in defense was EPL champion and member of Invincibles. Of course in almost all listings he is called the most undeserved EPL champion but still.
Not untold and certainly not forgotten 😉👌
Cool video partially, but some facts are not correct. For example, highest place in FIFA rankings for Latvia was five years later, when they were 45th and had changes to qualify for World Cup 2010, lost decisive match against Greece for qualifying playoffs (Latvia was leading 2-1 after first half, but ended up losing 2-5), finished 3rd in the group, four points behind Switzerland, three points behind Greece. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_UEFA_Group_2 Big decline started afterwards.
Also, about Latvian stars - Verpakovskis played for Dynamo Kyiv, Pahars is still legend in Southampton, so some players achieved something.
P.S. Funny fact - Oliver Kahn, who was goalkeeper for Germany in Euro 2004, is quarter Latvian by ancestry, his grandmother married German Wermacht soldier and evacuated from Latvia in 1945 when Soviets were advancing.
🇵🇦 Panama
🇵🇫 Tahiti
🇮🇸 Iceland
🏴 Wales
2004 was weird year in sports... Like superweird... Dig in who won the biggest competitions and you will understand
8:32- there was .Artjoms Rudnevs.
Latvia was absolutely robbed in that game with Germany, so rigged
Forza Grecia
Sad Latvia failed at football ://
to be fair, football is incredibly boring comparing to hockey or basketball. And its super weird that football is so popular in world :D
@@McGman92 It's not that weird.
Football is much easier to play anywhere without much equipment. You just need a ball.
Both basketball and hockey need much more equipment.
Besides culture plays a huge role
@@ThroneFC I agree-football is easy to play, and I used to enjoy playing it myself. But watching it... I don’t know... sometimes even track and field events are more exciting. But yes, culture plays a role and that's why maybe I won't understand football fans :D
They drew a game. Big woop. Who cares?
Latvia making it to an international tournament, specially when only 16 teams qualified seems pretty bizarre to me.
Latvia cares and demonstrate some respect
right here, buddy 🙋♂️
I care as well
Also we had near-win draws in 1992 against European champions Denmark and Spain