UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers: Group D – Wales vs Latvia

Wales host Latvia at Cardiff City Stadium in their second Group D qualifier in the battle for a spot at UEFA Euro 2024.

Should Turkey lose to Croatia in Bursa, Turkey, victory could see Wales go top of Group D if they can better Croatia’s winning goal margin.

Latvia meanwhile could go second with a win if Croatia fail to beat Turkey elsewhere.

 

Team News

Wales have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-1 draw against Croatia in Split.

Latvia also have no fresh injury concerns to report after suffering a 3-2 friendly defeat at Republic of Ireland last week.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Wales host Latvia in a 7:45pm BST kick-off on Tuesday 28 March at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, with the game broadcast live on Viaplay 2 in UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Wales won their only previous meeting against Latvia (W1), prevailing 2-0 in an away friendly in August 2004.
• Latvia are playing away to Wales for the very first time in all competitions.
• Seven yellow cards were shown in Wales’ only previous meeting against Latvia, of which the Welsh picked up three bookings to Latvia’s four.
• Wales have kept just one clean sheet in their last six matches at home in all competitions (W2, D2, L2), which came in a 1-0 win over Ukraine in their World Cup Qualifying Play-Off in June 2022.
• Latvia have scored in each of their last 12 matches in all competitions (W6, D4, L2).

 

Prediction

Having been totally outplayed in Croatia, Wales showed excellent resilience to concede just one goal with plenty of stubborn defending, although their attack were sluggish but crucially grew throughout in their intensity so there are a lot of positives to take into this clash.

Latvia meanwhile look like a team which should be comfortably beaten but Wales certainly can’t afford to underestimate their Latvian opposition, particularly given Latvia’s goalscoring form yet their defence will be vulnerable against fast-paced opposition as Ireland exposed easily.

Wales though will be favourites on home turf and it is these sort of games against Latvia and Georgia which they must win whilst nicking as many points as they can against Croatia and Turkey if they want to qualify for the Euros.

A home victory is therefore imperative and although Latvia will pose a stern test, I do believe that Rob Page’s Welsh Dragons should have enough to snatch a vital result.

Prediction: Wales 2-1 Latvia

Result: Wales 1-0 Latvia