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]
Euro 2004
|  | |
Group stage
| Pos | Team | 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 |
|
Netherlands | 3–0 |
Latvia |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Overall record
| UEFA European Championship record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
| 1960 to 1992 | Part of 
Soviet Union
| |||||||
| 1996 to 2000 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2004
|
Group stage | 14th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2008 to 2024 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2028
|
To be determined | |||||||
2032
| ||||||||
| Total | Group stage | 1/17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
See also
- Russia at the UEFA European Championship (records for Soviet Union)
References
- ^ a b "Joyful Latvia make history". Unions of European Football Associations. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Latvia claim historic win". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Euro 2004 draw". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Czech Rep 2–1 Latvia". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Latvia 0–0 Germany". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Holland 3–0 Latvia". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Group D". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2012.