The Czech Republic were given the fright of their lives by little Latvia on Tuesday but eventually emerged with the three points in Group D, considered Euro 2004's 'Group of Death'.
Although Karel Bruckner's side dominated in terms of possession they failed to break the deadlock in the first period and then conceded a goal in first-half stoppage time to Maris Verpakovskis.
Aleksandrs Starkovs' big-stage debutants from the Baltic - considered the lightweights in what is otherwise a very tough pool - defended their lead with vigour but finally the Czechs wore them down in the second period at Aveiro's colourful Estadio Municipal.
Milan Baros, who had spurned several good chances, equalised after 73 minutes after fine work by Karel Poborsky.
Then Baros' persistence set up the winner for substitute Marek Heinz who broke the hearts of Latvia who qualified for the tournament by beating World Cup semi-finalists Turkey in a two-legged play-off.
Now the Euro 96 finalists can approach tough games with Germany and Holland with confidence.
The Czechs started well with Baros prominent in the early exchanges and in the opening 20 seconds he just failed to get his head to a Pavel Nedved cross.
Then Baros put the ball in the net although French referee Gilles Veissiere had already ruled him offside.
Latvia's best early effort was when Vitalijs Astafjevs fired over from the edge of the box.
Baros should have done better when he screwed a shot wide after a clever pass by giant striker Jan Koller and Nedved then took centre stage.
He saw his goalbound shot come off a Latvian defender before cleverly feeding Marek Jankulovski who fired his angled drive wide in another good opportunity.
The Czechs produced a flowing move involving Baros, Karel Poborsky and Nedved which ended with Latvia goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko doing well to tip the ball
away from the head of Koller.
At the other end, Verpakovskis was inches away from getting his head to Andrejs Prohorenkovs' drilled cross after a pass from Aleksandrs Isakovs.
The Czechs gradually took control though and first Jankulovski again failed to hit the target from a good position.
Playmaker Tomas Rosicky forced another fine save from Kolinko and then Koller headed narrowly over in a move that started when Nedved's free-kick hit the wall.
Poborsky was next to threaten as he surged down the right before firing just over the bar from the corner of the penalty area.
It was looking ominous for Latvia but then, as the game went into first-half stoppage time, the minnows stunned the Czech Republic.
Czech right-back Zdenek Grygera was caught out of position and Andrejs Rubins surged down the left and his cross went past hesitant goalkeeper Petr Cech with
Verpakovskis scoring from close range.
The forward, the hero of the qualification campaign, was mobbed by his team-mates after another landmark goal for the big-stage new boys.
In the second period, the Czechs again started on the offensive with Poborsky and Nedved constantly looking for the head of Koller.
Bruckner then made his first change with Marek Heinz entering for Grygera.
From a corner, the Czech fans thought they had scored when Poborsky's well-struck shot rippled the side netting and after 61 minutes Baros did well to trap Poborsky's shot on the chest before turning his marker but spoiled it all
by firing over the bar.
Then he spurned his best chance yet when he missed from close range after Poborsky's cross went over Koller's head and landed at his feet.
Kolinko made another save from Koller but Latvia were threatening on the break
and Prohorenkovs' shot curled just wide of the post.
Kolinko then made his best save yet from a Nedved volley after a corner had
been headed out to him.
Starkovs brought on Juris Laizans for Prohorenkovs in a defensive move but
after 73 minutes the Czech equaliser finally came.
It was all down to the persistence of Poborsky who kept the ball in play and
delivered the ball into the middle and, despite Kolinko's best efforts, it fell
to Baros who drilled home.
Shortly afterwards, Heinz fired just over for the Czechs who were determined
to get the three points.
And the goal duly came when Heinz lashed the ball home after Baros' run had
sowed confusion in the Latvian defence with Kolinko out of position.
Martin Jiranek came on for Baros and Vits Rimkus for Latvia's Valentins
Lobanovs and there was still time for Astafjevs to force a save from Cech before
Veissiere called time.
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