Pahars returns for Riga showdowns

Missed two
The inclusion of the Southampton FC striker, who has missed the last two qualifiers after featuring in Latvia's first three, is a tremendous boost for coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, whose squad lie third in Group 4. Sweden and Hungary both have eleven points, with Latvia a point behind but with a game in hand on the Hungarians.

Key matches
Poland, in fourth, are three points behind Latvia ahead of their meeting in Riga on 6 September. Hungary then visit the Latvian capital four days later.

Latvia squad
Kolinko, Piedels, Krucs, Vanin, Isakovs, Zemlinskis, Lobanovs, Smirnovs, Zirnis, Stepanovs, Blagonadezdins, Rubins, Laizans, Semjonovs, Štolcers, Astafjevs, Bleidelis, Kolesnichenko,  Pucinskis, Pahars, Verpakovskis, Miholaps, Prohorenkovs, Dobrecovs.