Latvian hero Marias Verpakovskis is another story. The Skonto Riga striker, is on trial at Fratton Park.
Verpakovskis scored the winner in Riga and equalised in Turkey as Latvia became the first of the eleven Europe-based former USSR republics (with the obvious exception of Russia) to qualify for a major tournament.
Yeovil Town coach Gary Johnson, who has also coached the tiny Baltic nation, said of the player:
"He is having a look around Portsmouth now and it gives Harry a chance to have a look at him. Maris will cost money in, that is for sure, but in Premiership terms he would represent a very good buy – but many clubs don’t have any money and that rules them out already.
"A few clubs want to try and take him on loan, but Skonto do not want that – they want Maris to become settled and he wants to have something in place before the European Championships.”
A tiny problem, however, is that other Premiership clubs have noticed the player. A certain Arsene Wegner is one such manager. "Arsenal watched Maris score in both play-off games against Turkey and have invited him to London - he is a quality player" said Johnson.
Verpakovskis had a trial with Wolves in August, scoring in a 2-0 win over Boavista.