Latvia-Wales is a match on the sixth day of Group D of Euro 2024 qualifiers and is played Monday at 8:45 p.m.: predictions.
Leptonia and Wales, at the moment, give the impression of being shut out in a group in which qualification seems to be the preserve – surprising Armenia’s exploits permitting – of Turkey and Croatia, who have 10 and 7 points respectively.
The big disappointment, after the first 5 days, are the Welsh, who have so far been able to get the better of – by a narrow margin, to boot – modest Latvia, still out of points and with derisory hopes of moving up the ladder. It is almost an in-or-out challenge in Riga for Robert Page’s men, who can make no more mistakes if they want to try to get back in the running for one of the top two places or at least the third, which could be worth the playoffs. Wales, which “rested” in the last round, playing a friendly with South Korea (ended 0-0), must not make the same mistakes as in June. The double defeat against Armenia and Turkey risks jeopardizing the British side’s path to what would be their fourth participation in the final five rounds of a European championship. The absence of a charismatic leader such as Gareth Bale is being felt in spades – the former Real Madrid man has been hanging up his boots for a year now – and the days when Wales came to play for a historic semifinal at Euro 2016 seem far away.
Wales can still get back in the running
The draw between Turkey and Armenia, in this case, extended a hand to Page’s selection. To take advantage of this, however, even in view of a likely defeat of the Armenians against Croatia, Wales absolutely cannot fail the Latvia exam.
Latvia’s Uldriks vs. Croatia
The Baltics are coming off a heavy defeat last Friday against the Croatians (0-5) and give the impression that they have taken a step backward compared to the last World Cup qualifiers, in which they managed to scrape together a few points, but especially to the last Nations League, which ended with promotion to League C.
The Prediction
It has no other choice, Wales, if it wants to get back in the running for at least second place: beat Latvia to fly to 7 and get its hopes back up. Victory should come but as it did in the first leg, when the Brits came out on top 1-0, we will not witness a goleada in the match in Riga.
The probable lineups of Latvia-Wales
- LATONIA (4-4-2): Purins; Savalnieks, Cernomordijs, Dubra, Sorokins; Jaunzems, Emsis, Tobers, Ciganiks; Uldrikis, J. Ikaunieks.
- GALLES (3-5-2): Ward; Rodon, Mepham, B. Davies; Roberts, Ramsey, Ampadu, Wilson, Williams; Johnson, Moore.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-1
