JOY turned to despair for Marian Pahars as he played a part in the goal that cost his country one of their greatest-ever footballing moments.

With questions surrounding his fitness - he has been plagued by injuries since the summer of 2002 - the Saints striker was not risked from the start.

After an initial battering from the Czech Republic, Maris Verpakovskis, whose goals got Latvia to Euro 2004 - their first ever major tournament finals - gave his country a shock lead just before half time.

Liverpool's Milan Baros later equalised before Pahars, pictured above, came on to replace Verpakovskis.

As Latvia looked to run down the clock, and after Pahars had almost got through on goal only to be hauled back for a handball, came the decisive moment.

As the Latvian defence looked to relieve the pressure, Pahars took up a position on the left wing. He could see right across the line but, as the ball was played to him, was caught offside.

The free-kick quickly sent the ball up the other end and, after some poor defending, it found its way into the back of the net to give the Czechs - Saints boss Paul Sturrock's pre-tournament tip to go a long way in the competition - a 2-1 win.

ITV pundit, and former Saints midfielder Andy Townsend hammered Pahars and blamed him for the goal.

He said: "All the problems stemmed from Marian Pahars being offside 30 seconds before the goal went in.

"To be caught offside there was unintelligent and sloppy play and that has caught them out and that's the root of the problem."

In fairness to Pahars, though he should have kept himself onside, there was still a few moments of schoolboy defending to come before the Czechs scored.

Now for Pahars and his teammates it will be a case of trying to pick themselves up before they face Germany in their second Group D game on Saturday.

The chances are he will start that match.