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Goalkeepers
Alexander Kolinko (Rostov)
Andrejs Piedels (Skonto)
Andris Vanins (Torpedo-Metallurg) Russia
Defenders
Olegs Blagonadezdins (Skonto FC)
Aleksandrs Isakovs (Skonto FC)
Igors Korablovs (FK Ventspils)
Maris Smirnovs (FK Ventspils)
Igors Stepanovs (Beveren)
Arturs Zakresevskis (Skonto FC)
Mihails Zemlinskis (Skonto FC)
Dzintars Zirnis (FHK Liepajas Metalurgs)
Midfielders
Vitalijs Astafjevs (Herold Admira)
Kristaps Blanks (Skonto FC)
Imants Bleidelis (Viborg)
Vladimirs Kolesnicenko (Torpedo Metalurg)
Juris Laizans (CSKA Moskva)
Valentins Lobanovs (Metalurg Zaporizhya)
Jurgis Pucinsks (Luch-Energia)
Andrejs Rubins (Shinnik)
Igors Semjonovs (Skonto FC)
Andrejs Stolcers (Fulham)
Forwards
Viktors Dobrecovs (FHK Liepajas Metalurgs)
Gatis Kalnins (Skonto FC)
Mihails Miholaps (Skonto FC)
Marians Pahars (Southampton)
Andrejs Prohorenkovs (Maccabi Tel-Aviv)
Vits Rimkus (FK Ventspils)
Maris Verpakovskis (Dynamo Kyiv)

When the Baltic nation were drawn alongside Sweden, Poland, Hungary and San Marino in Group 4 few gave them much chance of success. However Aleksandrs Starkovs' side began their campaign creditably with a 0-0 home draw against section favourites Sweden - a game they might even have won had Maris Verpakovskis's late strike not been disallowed.
          Latvia then moved to the top of the group with an unexpected 1-0 win in Poland - Juris Laizans scoring the crucial goal, nevertheless Latvia struggled to beat San Marino in their next match before prevailing 1-0 courtesy of an 89th-minute own goal.
Credentials established
Latvia established their credentials as group leaders in the return, running out 3-0 winners and bringing their points total to an impressive ten from four games. However disaster struck in their next game, as they fell 3-1 to Hungary, despite leading at half time through Maris Verpakovskis. When the Hungarians beat San Marino four days later and the Swedes saw off Poland, Latvia had suddenly slumped from top spot to just third.

Slide continues
The slide continued when the campaign resumed in September as Latvia lost 2-0 at home to Poland, seeing their victors join them on ten points. At this stage Latvian dreams of Portugal, which seemed so vivid five months earlier, were in danger of evaporating. Four days later though they rediscovered their form and their nerve to beat Hungary 3-1, with Verpakovskis scoring twice, to go into their final game against group winners Sweden with a chance of snatching second place and a play-off berth - but only if they won in Stockholm.

History in the making
The Swedes, defending a long unbeaten run in qualifiers, were shocked to find themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline. Verpakovskis scored the only goal but Latvia had to survive a monumental scare three minutes from time when Sweden striker Marcus Allbäck was brought down inside the area but missed with the resulting spot kick.
          By now all of Latvia believed their country could reach the finals despite a forbidding play-off draw, which paired them with highly rated Turkey. Another Verpakovskis goal was enough to win the first leg 1-0 in Riga though and despite trailing 2-0 in the return leg Latvia mounted an extraordinary comeback to draw 2-2 with goals from Laizans and that man Verpakovskis, his fifth in his last four competitive appearances, proving enough to edge through to their first ever major tournament 3-2 on aggregate.