Wales vs Latvia

Euro 2024 qualifying Group D is picking up the steam as Wales and Latvia go head-to-head at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales notched a stoppage-time equalizer to hold Croatia to a 1-1 draw in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier last time out. But despite taking a point home from Croatia for the first time in 20 years, it wasn’t enough to halt Wales’ longest winless run since 2000-01 that now stretches to nine matches (D3, L6). Prolificacy has been a genuine issue for Rob Page’s side, as they’ve netted under 1.5 goals in their last six internationals, including all three outings at an ill-fated 2022 World Cup. Without serial winner Gareth Bale, it’s hard to expect the ‘Dragons’ to rediscover their scoring touch effortlessly, yet it’s necessary if they’re to qualify for a third consecutive European Championship. Delivering action from the get-go could help, especially after they’ve failed to score a first-half goal in all six games under Page.

As the last Group F side to begin their campaign, Baltic minnows Latvia will be out to beat the odds and avenge a 2-0 loss from their only previous meeting with Wales dating back to 2004. Achieving that feat would drastically improve their chances of securing Euro qualification for the first time since 2004, but that looks far-fetched. The visitors are winless in their last five matches (D3, L2 – 90mins only), with each game in that period seeing both teams on the scoresheet. But the Latvians have every reason to aim high in Cardiff after going unbeaten in their last six competitive away games (W3, D3), keeping three clean sheets in the process.