Advocaat puts job on the line as Dutch go for win against Latvia
PORTO: Dick Advocaat puts his job on the line when his under-achieving Holland team meet Euro 2004 surprise package Latvia in their final Group D match in Braga today.
Both teams need to win to go through to the quarter-finals and hope that three-times champions Germany do not beat the already qualified Czech Republic, the only team with maximum points in the tournament.
Advocaat's team were unimpressive despite coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Germany in their first game and a controversial substitution handed the Czechs, then 1-2 down, a lifeline from which they built a 3-2 victory on Saturday.
The Dutch coach has a contract with the national team until the 2006 World Cup in Germany but there is a clause for a review after Euro 2004, which his side will depart tonight if the Latvians spring another surprise.
“It wasn't the substitution that turned the match, individual errors led to the Czech goals,” Advocaat said, defending his decision to take off Arjen Robben for the more defensive Paul Bosvelt.
Midfield dynamo Edgar Davids said: “Now we depend on what the Czechs do and we don't like that.
“We have to be focused and concentrate against Latvia because we know they did well against the Czechs and also against Germany.”
Advocaat is expected to start with the same team that lost to the Czechs apart from suspended defender Johnny Heitinga, who was sent off in the match in Aveiro. Michael Reiziger will probably take his place.
Latvia are equal on points with the Dutch, having led the Czechs before losing narrowly 1-2 and then holding Germany 0-0, their biggest footballing achievement to date.
Progressing with each match, Latvia believe in their chances of an even greater upset, a victory which would take them into the quarter-finals of their first major tournament.
“If the first dream of reaching the Finals came true why shouldn't a second dream come true,” said their impressive striker Maris Verpakovskis, who almost scored against Germany and might have had a penalty.
Coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, the man responsible for putting Latvia's number one sport ice hockey temporarily in the shade, said: “We lost to the Czechs and drew with the Germans. All that's missing is to win.”
Starkovs is almost certain to keep the same starting line-up for the third successive match with English-based Marian Pahars again on the bench. – Reuters
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