Starkovs adopts wait-and-see policy
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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Latvia's Aleksandrs Starkovs is holding his cards close to his chest after calling up just 19 players to his squad to face Greece and Georgia. "There's still time for others to impress," he said.
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Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs has called up just 19 players to an initial squad for the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers against Greece and Georgia as he continues to run the rule over potential additions.
Latvia have three points from two Group F matches after following up a home defeat by Croatia by winning in Malta. Starkovs has omitted goalkeeper Deniss Romanovs and midfielder Maksims Rafaļskis while Skonto FC defender Vitalijs Smirnovs gets another chance to catch the eye.
Starkovs will wait till after the next round of Latvian First Division matches on 2 October before making a final selection decision. "There is still time for other players to impress," he told UEFA.com. "The backbone of the team has already been formed and I have full confidence in every player. We face two very important and difficult matches against teams full of top-class talent. To collect any points we need to prepare properly." Latvia visit Greece on 8 October before welcoming Georgia to Riga four days later.
Latvia squad
Goalkeepers: Andris Vaņins (FC Sion), Aleksandrs Koļinko (FK Ventspils).
Defenders: Pavels Mihadjuks (SK Liepājas Metalurgs), Kaspars Gorkšs (Queens Park Rangers FC), Deniss Ivanovs (Sivasspor), Ritus Krjauklis (FK Ventspils), Oskars Kļava (FC Anzhi Makhachkala), Vitālijs Smirnovs (Skonto FC), Aleksandrs Fertovs (Skonto FC).
Midfielders: Vitālijs Astafjevs (Skonto FC), Andrejs Rubins (Qarabağ FK), Jurijs Žigajevs (FK Ventspils), Juris Laizans (FC Salyut Belgorod), Aleksandrs Cauņa (Skonto FC), Artis Lazdiņš (FK Jelgava).
Forwards: Maris Verpakovskis (Ergotelis FC), Ģirts Karlsons (FC İnter Bakı), Andrejs Perepļotkins (Skonto FC), Artjoms Rudņevs (KKS Lech Poznań).
