Missing fans cost England

Nemeth: poor attendance equals no atmosphere

England coach Laszlo Nemeth remains hopeful that his team can still advance to the European Championship finals despite a 74-69 home defeat by Latvia.

But he criticised the English public for not turning out to support the national side in their quest to qualify for next year's tournament in Istanbul.

A crowd of just 900 watched England's defeat at the Coventry Skydome - a venue which seats 4,000.

"This was the game we needed. Where was everybody?" said Nemeth.

England can still go through with a win in Croatia next month followed by home success against Hungary, but only if Latvia lose one of their remaining two games.

One of those games is against Group A leaders Croatia.

Hope

"We live in hope, but I can't even think about it," said Nemeth.

Of England's four wins in Group A of the semi-final round, three have come away from home in hostile territory.

Hansell thrives on the buzz a big crowd creates

In Latvia last December, bottles were hurled on to the court when England won.

"That was the biggest loss in the history of our country," said Latvia coach Armands Kraulins after last night's game. "England is known for its football, not basketball."

In Hungary, a game England lost in overtime, the vitriol hurled at Nemeth and the England players was disturbing. Yet England closed ranks and fed off the charged atmosphere.

In Switzerland, where a secret camera videotaping their training sessions was uncovered, England won in front of a record Swiss basketball crowd of 2,400.

The opening win over Slovakia accounted for the other road victory.

England guard Steve Hansell said: "I just feel like I can run faster, jump higher when the crowd is into it.

"But people in this country are not as knowledgeable about the sport."