Latvia at the UEFA European Championship

The UEFA Euro 2004 Group D match between the Netherlands and Latvia on 23 June at Estádio Municipal de Braga

Latvia have qualified for a UEFA European Championship once, the 2004 edition. After finishing second in their qualifying group, they won the two-legged play-offs against Turkey (3–2 on aggregate) to secure their first appearance in a major tournament finals.[1][2] In doing so, Latvia became the first and so far only Baltic team to qualify for a European Championship.[1][2]

At Euro 2004, Latvia were drawn in Group D, alongside Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.[3] Latvia faced the Czech Republic in their opening match on 15 June 2004, with Māris Verpakovskis scoring before half-time.[4] However, the Czechs would later come back to win the game 2–1.[4] Four days later, Latvia earned a respectable 0–0 draw against World Cup runners-up Germany to earn their first point in a major tournament.[5] They lost their final match 3–0 against the Netherlands,[6] and were eliminated, finishing fourth in the group with one point from their draw and two losses.[7]

Overall record

UEFA European Championship record											Qualifying record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1960	Part of the  Soviet Union										Part of the  Soviet Union
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996	Did not qualify										10	4	0	6	11	20
2000											10	3	4	3	13	12
2004	Group stage	14th	3	0	1	2	1	5	Squad		10	6	2	2	13	8
2008	Did not qualify										12	4	0	8	15	17
2012											10	3	2	5	9	12
2016											10	0	5	5	6	19
2020											10	1	0	9	3	28
2024											8	1	0	7	5	19
2028	To be determined										To be determined
2032
Total	Group stage	1/8	3	0	1	2	1	5	—		80	22	13	45	75	135

Euro 2004

Main article: UEFA Euro 2004

Group stage

Main article: UEFA Euro 2004 Group D

Latvian fans at Euro 2004

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Czech Republic	3	3	0	0	7	4	+3	9	Advance to knockout stage
2	Netherlands	3	1	1	1	6	4	+2	4
3	Germany	3	0	2	1	2	3	−1	2
4	Latvia	3	0	1	2	1	5	−4	1

Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

15 June 2004 (2004-06-15)

17:00

Czech Republic	2–1	Latvia
Baroš 73' Heinz 85'	Report	Verpakovskis 45+1'

Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro

Attendance: 21,744

Referee: Gilles Veissière (France)

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19 June 2004 (2004-06-19)

17:00

Latvia	0–0	Germany
	Report

Estádio do Bessa, Porto

Attendance: 22,344

Referee: Mike Riley (England)

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23 June 2004 (2004-06-23)

19:45

Netherlands	3–0	Latvia
Van Nistelrooy 27' (pen.), 35' Makaay 84'	Report

Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga

Attendance: 27,904

Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)

See also

• Russia at the UEFA European Championship (records for Soviet Union)

References

1. "Joyful Latvia make history". Unions of European Football Associations. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
2. "Latvia claim historic win". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
3. "Euro 2004 draw". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
4. "Czech Rep 2–1 Latvia". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
5. "Latvia 0–0 Germany". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
6. "Holland 3–0 Latvia". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
7. "Group D". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.