MATCH 15 REPORT : BRAVE LATVIA DENY GERMANY

Tactical reshuffle
Germany made one change from the team that drew 1-1 with the Netherlands on Tuesday, Fredi Bobic coming in up front to partner Kevin Kuranyi and Frank Baumann moving from the midfield holding role into central defence to replace Jens Nowotny, who has been carrying a knee injury. Latvia started with the same team that lost narrowly to the Czech Republic in their opening game.

Early caution
English referee Michael Riley was reaching for his yellow card inside 30 seconds, Latvia's Aleksandrs Isakovs going into the book for a clumsy touchline challenge on Torsten Frings. It was Frings who had the first chance of the game, shooting over from long range on eight minutes, and Rudi Völler's side threatened again near the quarter-hour when Kuranyi sent a 20-metre volley drive wide.

Latvian pressure
Latvia responded with an Andrejs Rubins free-kick that was deflected over the bar for a corner, and there was little to choose between the two sides in a lively opening. Arne Friedrich was booked for handball when the industrious Latvians produced an encouraging spell of pressure which included an Igors Stepanovs header from a corner saved by German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

German threat
Back came Germany for Bernd Schneider to shoot just wide, and Dietmar Hamann was off-target with an ambitious volley as the game ebbed and flowed. Latvian keeper Aleksandrs Kolinko then made two good saves from shots by Michael Ballack and Kuranyi, the Latvians being forced to defend in depth for a spell after the half-hour.

Click here for full report

©uefa.com 1998-2004. All rights reserved.