UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying: Group D – Latvia vs Wales

Latvia host Wales in a crunch Qualifying Group D clash with qualification for UEFA Euro 2024 at stake.

Latvia will remain bottom of the group regardless of the result but a win can put them within one point of Wales, although a defeat would see them mathematically eliminated from contention.

Wales meanwhile know that victory could see them go third but will at least put them right back in the hunt for qualification.

 

Team News

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Latvia have no fresh injury concerns to report following their loss away to Croatia on Friday evening.

Wales will be without goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey and midfielder, Wes Burns after the pair withdrew with unspecified injuries, following the goaless friendly draw against South Korea last Thursday.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Latvia host Wales at Skonto Stadium, Riga, in a 8:45pm CET (7:45pm UK Time) kick-off on Monday 11 September, live on Viaplay in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Latvia have lost their only previous UEFA Euro qualifier against Wales (L1), which came in a 1-0 defeat in Cardiff in March 2023.
• Wales are visiting Latvia for the first time in a competitive fixture, although they did win 2-0 in a friendly here in August 2004.
• Latvia are yet to beat Wales after two defeats in two previous meetings in all competitions, during which they failed to find the net.
• Latvia have scored in 13 of their last 15 matches in all competitions dating back to November 2021 (W6, D4, L5). with both blanks coming in losses away to Wales and Croatia.
• Wales have won just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions dating back to June 2022 (W1, D4, L8).

 

Prediction

Having suffered a humilating 5-0 loss to Croatia last time out, Latvia certainly have nothing to lose because defeat here will certainly mathematically end their qualification hopes so they will be looking to spring a shock.

Wales’ form however is worse yet they do have the better quality and after holding South Korea to a goalless draw, I do expect them to come out ready to try and get that win to keep their dreams firmly alive otherwise they could need luck elsewhere to rescue them.

Latvia though won’t be easy to break down if their clash in March is anything to go by, but Wales surely have to find a way given their winning form in this fixture, if want to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Prediction: Latvia 0-1 Wales

Result: Latvia 0-2 Wales