Preview: Latvia vs. Turkey - prediction, team news, lineups

Dainis Kazakevics's team were beaten 1-0 by Wales in their opening fixture of Group D, while Turkey fell 2-0 at home to Croatia in their last match.

Match preview

Even though Latvia have played a game fewer than the group's top sides — Wales and Croatia — they are already playing catch-up in the race to make next year's European Championship.

A 1-0 loss at Wales was unsurprising; due to the Dragons' impressive home form in Euro qualifying, which has seen them secure nine wins and three draws since a 2011 defeat by England.

Latvia are back on their turf on Friday, seeking a return to winning ways, and move level on points with the nation they host.

However, their six-game winless run in all competitions against the Turks offers little optimism, even though a closer look reveals that five of those meetings have been stalemates.

The Baltic nation's form in Euro qualifying leaves much to be desired, evidenced by a run that has produced 11 defeats in their last 12 fixtures.

That statistic would be music to Turkey's ears, owing to the away side's desire to return to winning ways after losing to Croatia.

With two qualification places there for the taking, Stefan Kuntz's men are realistically in a three-way battle with Wales and Croatia (both on four points after two games) to feature in next year's finals in Germany.

Thus, dropping points against a side they are ostensibly superior to when they have little margin for error would be far from ideal.

Despite losing last Saturday's Champions League final to Manchester City, Hakan Calhanoglu is expected to lead the away nation in Latvia, where a victory could take them back into the qualification places.

With Croatia not playing this week and a meeting with Wales imminent on June 19, Turkey could be the biggest winner over the next two rounds in qualifying.

Latvia Euro Champ Qualifying form:

L

Latvia form (all competitions):

L

D

W

L

L

L

Turkey Euro Champ Qualifying form:

W

L

Turkey form (all competitions):

D

L

W

W

W

L

Team News

Kazakevics is expected to lean on many of the players from that defeat by Wales in March as he retains his preferred 4-4-2 approach.

Vladislavs Gutkovskis was involved in 11 goals for his club Rakow in 2022-23, making him a likely starter up top, supported by the towering Roberts Uldrikis.

Turkey are anticipated to return to a 4-2-3-1, having utilised a 3-4-3 against Armenia in March.

Ismail Yuksek was outstanding after replacing Calhanoglu against Croatia three months back, but the Fenerbahce midfielder might have to make do with a place on the bench on Friday.

Cengiz Under fashioned five chances down the right in the 2-0 loss to Zlatko Dalic's men in March, and the wide attacker could play a pivotal role against the Latvians.

Latvia possible starting lineup:

Steinbors; Savalnieks, Oss, Cernomordijs, Sorokins; Ikaunieks, Zjuzins, Emsis, Ciganiks; Gutkovskis, Uldrikis

Turkey possible starting lineup:

Gunok; Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu, Kadioglu; Kokcu, Ozcan; Under, Calhanoglu, Akturkoglu; Unal

We say: Latvia 2-2 Turkey

Only a 99th-minute winning goal the last time both nations met prevented a sixth straight draw between Latvia and Turkey.

That result seemed anomalous, and a score draw could be on the cards in Friday's encounter at Skonto Stadium.

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