Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Latviavs.Faroe Islands

sportsmole.co.uk, 9 June 2024, 22:05
Lativa are set to host Faroe Islands at the Daugava Stadium on Tuesday in the Baltic Cup third-place playoff.

Serial winners Latvia lost to Lithuania 2-0 last time out in the first stage of the tournament while debutants Faroe Islands lost 4-1 to Estonia.

Match preview

Even if the hosts win and finish third they will naturally be disappointed with their campaign as it would represent their worst placement in the biennial tournament since 1996.

In fact, of the three permanent members of the Baltic Cup, Lativa have won the competition a record 13 times.

The 2022 iteration of the tournament saw the 11 Wolves lose to guests Iceland on penalties in the final, while the prior edition also saw them lose in the final against Estonia.

Latvia have lost three of their last four games in the competition, an unusually poor record considering they were unbeaten in their prior 13 games, a run stretching back to 2008.

However, Tuesday's hosts' overall form has been particularly concerning as they have lost 12 of their last 17 fixtures.

Manager Paolo Nicolato was appointed in February and has led his side to two draws and a defeat in his three matches in charge, and while this is not exactly an exceptional record, he did end a run of three consecutive losses.

Although Latvia failed to qualify for the Euros and cannot win the Baltic Cup, they will hope to build momentum heading into the UEFA Nations League later this year when they will also face Faroe Islands in their group.

The visitors were invited to play in the competition as guests and though they cannot win the tournament they do have the opportunity to win their second game in four matches, a vein of relative form they last experienced between June and September 2022.

Though Faroe Islands did win 4-0 over Liechtenstein in late March, they have since lost twice against Denmark and Estonia.

In fact, since October 7, 2020 the away side have failed to win 34 of their last 41 games, losing 24 times in the process.

Faroe Islands also finished bottom of their Euro 2024 qualifying group, picking up just two points from their eight games while also conceding 13 goals.

Manager Hakan Ericson has been in charge since December 2019 and although he only has a 21% win record, he still managed to secure the Faroese national team's biggest ever victory, their first-ever competitive tournament win in the UEFA Nations League D and the longest unbeaten record in their history, spanning four games.

Latvia Baltic Cup form:

L

Latvia form (all competitions):

L

L

L

D

D

L

Faroe Islands Baltic Cup form:

L

Faroe Islands form (all competitions):

L

W

D

W

L

L

Team News

The hosts will hope forward Raimonds Krollis can replicate his performance against Liechtenstein in late March on Tuesday, a game in which he managed to equalise after 11 minutes.

Latvia are also likely to use Eduards Daskevics in the front three, while Raivis Jurkovskis, Kaspars Dubra and Kristers Tobers could continue in central defence.

As for the away side, they have deployed vastly different backlines in their last three games including three different goalkeepers, two different right-backs and three separate centre-back pairings.

Left-back Viljormur Davidsen has been a consistent starter including in his side's last win against Liechtenstein.

Forward Joan Edmundsson will almost certainly play considering he has started the last three games, while Paetur Petersen could be in line for a start alongside Edmundsson after being benched in the last two fixtures.

Latvia possible starting lineup:

Ozols; Dubra, Tobers, Jurkovskis; Savalnieks, Saveljevs, Zelenkovs, Ciganiks; Ikaunieks, Krollis, Daskevics

Faroe Islands possible starting lineup:

Reynatrod; Davidsen, Chukwudi, A Edmundsson, Sorensen; Olsen, Radosa­vljevic, Joensen, Knudsen; Petersen, J Edmundsson

We say: Latvia 2-1 Faroe Islands

Although Faroe Islands have experienced relative success under manager Ericson, they could find difficulty on Tuesday given their host's pedigree in the Baltic Cup.

Previews by email

Top News

1 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has ruled out a future career in coaching as he admitted he is unsure whether he will play in the 2026 World Cup. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly knocked back several offers from interested clubs for teenage starlet Claudio Echeverri. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk French off the back of reaching the Taca da Liga semi-finals, Benfica return to action in the Primeira Liga when they visit the Estadio de Sao Luis to face SC Farense on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly ready to part ways with Aurelien Tchouameni and could offer the midfielder as part of a deal to sign Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gil Vicente will be looking to make it five straight games without defeat on home turf this season when they play host to Boavista in round 10 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are one of five European giants who have been alerted by Jamal Musiala's contract situation at Bayern Munich. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vincent Kompany will be hoping that his Bayern Munich side can maintain their unbeaten record in the Bundesliga on Saturday when they host Union Berlin at the Allianz Arena. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt are set to host VfL Bochum on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in the Bundesliga. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nuri Sahin's side are in desperate need of a win, but they face a difficult task on Saturday given they welcome RB Leipzig to Signal Iduna Park in their ninth Bundesliga match of the season. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their ninth Bundesliga game of the season, relegation threatened Wolfsburg are set to host Augsburg on Saturday at Volkswagen Arena. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who have turned a corner of late go head to head in round 11 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Fortuna Sittard welcome Heerenveen to the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Sunday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest will endeavour to win their third consecutive Premier League game when they welcome West Ham United to the City Ground on Saturday afternoon. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In one of two high-profile matches round 11 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season has to offer, Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar will do battle at De Kuip on Saturday evening. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both gunning for promotion in their respective divisions, Walsall and Bolton Wanderers will turn their attentions to the FA Cup as they meet for a first-round tie at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have received a major injury boost regarding Manuel Akanji, according to a report. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga giants Barcelona are monitoring the situation of Rafael Leao at AC Milan, according to a report. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that Bournemouth 'should not abandon their principles' in Saturday's clash with the Premier League champions at the Vitality Stadium. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Holstein Kiel and Heidenheim meet at Holstein-Stadion in Saturday's gameweek nine match in a battle between a host in their first Bundesliga season and an opponent in their second-ever top-flight year. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has said that the Red Devils "can and have to perform better", as he prepares the team for Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruud van Nistelrooy has said that he is expecting to remain at Manchester United as an assistant manager once the club have finalised a deal for Erik ten Hag's long-term replacement. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to make it back-to-back wins in pursuit of the top six in the Championship table, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford will meet at Hillsborough on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to bounce back to winning ways in their fights at opposite ends of the Championship table, Leeds United and Plymouth Argyle will square off at Elland Road on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Securing consecutive wins for the first time since September will be the major objective for Heracles as they entertain the challenge of NAC Breda at the Asito Stadium on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly started to consider other options in the transfer market at left-back, due to the predicted wage demands of Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City manager Steve Cooper is expected to recall several of his first-team stars for Saturday's Premier League clash with Ipswich Town at Portman Road. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town could be without as many as 10 players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Leicester City at Portman Road. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by just three points in the top six of the Championship table, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United will meet in an important contest at Ewood Park on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Last season's top two in the Championship lock horns at Portman Road for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon when Ipswich Town play host to Leicester City. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their first MLS playoff contest at Citi Field since 2022, New York City FC host FC Cincinnati needing a win on Saturday to stay alive in the quest for the cup. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Premier League have released the shortlist for October's Player of the Month award, with players from clubs up and down the table and all over the pitch included.