Latvia scrapes through

  • 2004-04-29
  • By Karlis Berzins
RIGA - This is the kind of tournament that can turn great players into legends. The 23 players representing Latvia are the best the country has to offer. They have proven themselves in leagues all over the world and if they can go all the way in this year's world championship in Prague, then they will surely be remembered and honored by drunken hockey fans for years to come.

Although the weather is beautiful in Riga right now, most Latvians wouldn't know it as they are all crammed into every bar and cafe with a TV. All eyes are focused on the national team, as if looking away would spell disaster. Like an emotional roller coaster, the fans' faces rise and fall with every flick of the puck. Older fans say the names of players as if they were their children, scolding them whenever they miss a shot on goal
Having won both pretournament games against Japan, Latvians were on just enough of a high to boast that this was going to be the year. But, as usual, expectations have exceeded reality.
Latvia's first game was against tournament favorites the Czech Republic on April 24. It still had yet to play three solid periods in a row, and the game against the home team turned out no differently. Latvia conceded three goals in the first period, and while they kept the Czech Republic from doing any more damage, they could only manage to force a goal in the final minutes of the game.
The game was also overshadowed by intense speculation as to why NHL star Sandis Ozolins didn't play. Before the game against the Czech Republic, it was announced that Ozolins would not be playing in this year's tournament due to injuries. This led to rampant speculation on the Internet as to what had really happened to Latvia's best-known player. But whether or not Ozolins would have made any difference against the Czechs is purely academic. Latvia's head coach Kurt Lindstrem told Diena after the game: "We were probably playing this year's world champions."
At least Latvia did a little better against Germany on April 26. It was a chance for revenge for the Latvians, as the same German team knocked them out of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City when it beat them 4-1, as well as beating them 3-2 at last year's world championship in Sweden.
Lindstrem knew the game against Germany would be physical and tried to avoid making the same mistakes made against the Czechs by gifting them with an early lead. Latvia started the game with a real sense of purpose and Sergejs Zoltoks scored in the 10th minute of the first period off a great reflection from Normunds Sejejs.
But the rest of the game was a struggle, with two styles of play clashing in a truly memorable game. Germany's Jochen Hecht scored from a pass by Tobias Abstreiter to tie the game at 1-1 in the sixth minute of the second period. The goal clearly rattled the Latvians who shot at every chance they got, but Germany neatly countered each attack. Latvia threw everything it could at German goalie Olaf Kolzig, but to no avail. Luckily veteran Latvian goalie Arturs Irbe also stood his ground, and the game ended 1-1. But it was a game both teams could be proud of.
The Czechs are already through to the next round thanks to wins against Latvia and Kazakhstan. The latter was a great game and showed that, though Kazakhstan is a new team to international play, they have talent and after a few years could be a major contender in the World Championships.
Latvia faced Kazakhstan on April 27 and won 3-1 in convincing fashion. For the Latvian fans, this was just what they were hoping for.
All three of Latvia's goals came in the third period. Kazakhstan struck first in the 13th minute of the second period with a goal by Anatoliy Filatov. But a goal by Aleksandrs Nizivijs helped Latvia get back into the game.
For a long time it semed like the game would end in a tie, but then in the 16th minute of the third period a grezat play by the NHL's Sergejs Zoltoks gave Latvia the lead.
The final goal came in the last minute by Vjaceslavs Fanduls much to the joy of the Latvian fans.
With this win Latvia will move on to the next round and play one of the leaders of group D consisting of Austria, which topped its group. Latvia's most likely next opponents will be either Switzerland, who is very strong, or Canada, who is among the favorites.