Faroe Islands VS Latvia Match Prediction

  • Logo2018-03-22
  • Logo19:00:00
Faroe Islands
VS
Latvia

Our Prediction Tip

Faroe Islands will win this match.

The Faroe Islands and Latvia met for the first time in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. The Faroe Islands won 2-0 in Riga, thanks to goals from Joan Simun Edmundsson and Sonni Ragnar Nattestad, before a goalless draw in the return fixture in their most recent meeting.

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Faroe Islands vs Latvia Betting Tips

While the trip to Marbella negates any home advantage, Faroe Islands have the clear advantage momentum-wise going into this game.

Their 2-0 win in Riga set the tone for a highly successful World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign - their most successful to date as they recorded nine points in total - and, unlike Latvia, they have many of the same experienced players in their squad.

Frooi Benjaminsen's absence means a loss of experience in midfield, but elsewhere in the team they have the likes of Gunnar Nielsen - yet to concede in two matches against Latvia - and Joan Simun Edmundsson, one of the goalscorers in Riga, still in their ranks.

With Aleksandrs Starkovs back in charge, again, Latvia will be hoping for a return to the success he enjoyed in 2004 - leading them to the European Championships - but form is not on their side.

Simply scoring would be an improvement on their previous two results against the Faroe Islands - who have built a solid defence, even with the two Davidsens absent this month.

The Faroese will be confident of shutting out Latvia's front men, and adding to their recent good results.

Faroe Islands vs Latvia Recommended bets with odds

Bet365 are offering 6/4 on both teams winning on Thursday, but it is the Faroese who go into the game in much better form - and with their win and draw against Latvia in the group stage behind them.

They are yet to concede in this fixture, and it is easy to see why Bet365 have listed under 2.5 goals at just 13/20.

A Faroese win to nil will return 7/2, however, and you can get evens from Bet365 on them scoring first too. Betfair are offering 10/11 against both teams to score, meanwhile.

Faroe Islands vs Latvia Prediction

Latvia have popular former manager Aleksandrs Starkovs back in the dug-out, but there is no escaping their poor form. The Faroe Islands have won one and drawn one in this fixture in the last two years, and are yet to concede a goal - the latter stat in particular highlighting why they should be considered favourites.

Correct Score Prediction: Faroe Islands 1-0 Latvia

 

Team News

Veteran midfielder Fróði Benjaminsen is the most notable absentee from the squad which faced Latvia and Hungary in October. The most-capped Faroese player had come out of retirement to play in the qualifiers, but the 40-year-old's international career may now be over for the final time. Fellow midfielder Pol Johannus Justinussen also misses out, as do experienced defenders Viljormor Davidsen and Johan Troest Davidsen. Trygvi Askham, Alex Mellemgaard and Gunnar Vatnhamar could all make their international debuts this month.

Key Players

Striker Joan Simun Edmundsson scored one of his five international goals in the 2-0 defeat of Latvia in Riga, while goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen - who enjoyed brief Premier League experience with Manchester City - kept two clean sheets in two games against the Latvians.

Team Form

While the Faroe Islands have lost to Switzerland (2-0), Portugal (5-1) and, most recently, Hungary (1-0) in the past 12 months, their 1-0 victory at home to Andorra and goalless draw with Latvia in the most recent meeting between these two teams ensured they finished their World Cup 2018 qualification campaign with their highest ever points tally.

Faroe Islands Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 4-2-3-1

Team News

Veteran defender Kaspars Gorkss has retired since the two teams last met, while many of the domestic-based players selected for February's friendly with South Korea have not been retained in the squad. Eduards Visnakovs misses out through injury up front, while midfielder Edgars Vardanjans is also sidelined.

Key Players

Striker Valerijs Sabala - one of just six players based outside of Latvia in the squad - is the top scorer in the current squad. The 23-year-old Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala striker has scored 12 times in 39 games. Midfielder Glebs Kluskins scored his first two international goals in their recent defeat to Kosovo, meanwhile.

Team Form

Since the goalless draw in Torshavn against the Faroe Islands, Latvia beat Andorra 4-0 - including a double from Valerijs Sabala - but have lost three friendlies since, crashing to a 2-0 defeat against Saudi Arabia, losing 4-3 to Kosovo and, in February, 1-0 to South Korea with a scratch side.

Latvia Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 3-4-3

Faroe Islands enjoyed an unbeaten record against Latvia during the World Cup qualifiers, without conceding a goal, and will hope to maintain that record in their first match since completing their most successful ever qualifying campaign. Latvia will be out for revenge, but the momentum is not with them.
Latvia are yet to score against the Faroe Islands, having lost 2-0 at home and drawn 0-0 away during their World Cup 2018 qualifying matches.