Germany, Latvia at full strength for first meeting
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-19 13:12

Germany and Latvia will be at full strength for their Euro 2004 Group D match on Saturday, the first competitive game between the two countries.

Latvia could play Marian Pahars in an attacking midfield position after his improved fitness since Monday's 2-1 defeat by the Czech Republic in their debut at a major tournament.

Pahars can bring greater variety to Latvia's attack, which showed speed when they went ahead against the Czechs in a counter-attack but lacked an element of surprise.

Coach Aleksandrs Starkovs would not, however, reveal any changes to his side when they practised at Porto's bessa stadium on Friday.

If Latvia harbour any hopes of an upset, however, they are up against a coach who has lost only two competitive matches since taking charge of Germany.

"If the players believe in themselves and if every single one goes to the limit, we will be hard to beat," Voeller said.

German defenders Jens Nowotny and Arne Friedrich both trained after missing Thursday's practice. Nowotny has now recovered from a knee injury while Friedrich was rested.

"All the players are fit," Voeller said.

Voeller was expected to start with two strikers, Fredi Bobic and Kevin Kuranyi after fielding only Kuranyi in the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Tuesday. Defensive midfielder Frank Baumann could stand down.

Germany, world and European champions three times, will be looking to ensure they win to go into their last group match against the Czechs with four points.

Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn should not be kept too busy by the Latvian attack, who gave Czech Petr Cech little to do, but still surprised him with their goal at the end of the first half.

Kahn, who has Latvian blood, does not intend to be caught out.

"Sorry, there will be no presents on Saturday," he said.

Probable teams^ Latvia (4-4-2) - 1-Aleksandrs Kolinko; 7-Aleksandrs Isakovs, 2-Igors Stepanovs, 4-Mihails Zemlinskis, 6-Olegs Blagonadezdins; 8-Imants Bleidelis, 17-Marian Pahars, 3-Vitalijs Astafjevs (captain), 10-Andrejs Rubins; 11-Andrejs Prohorenkovs, 9-Maris Verpakovskis.

Germany (4-4-2) - 1-Oliver Kahn (captain); 3-Arne Friedrich, 4-Christian Woerns, 5-Jens Nowotny, 21-Philipp Lahm; 8-Dietmar Hamann, 19-Bernd Schneider, 13-Michael Ballack, 22-Torsten Frings; 10-Kevin Kuranyi, 9-Fredi Bobic.

Referee - Mike Riley (England)

Linesmen - Philip Sharp (England), Glenn Turner (England)