Netherlands
Latvia
27 March 2021
17:00 UK/ 18:00 CET
World Cup Qual
Netherlands will be aiming to make amends for a shocking 4-2 loss to Turkey when they host Latvia at Johan Cruijff Arena on Saturday evening.
🗓️Saturday's #WCQ fixtures ⏳ pic.twitter.com/w6qrBzZ5pp
— Match Day (@Match__Daay) March 27, 2021
The Oranje face a must-win game, and we are positive that they will go all guns blazing at the former Soviet Republic.
Both Klaasen and de Jong should be recalled to the starting XI after the duo managed to score in the defeat to Turkey. Lyon attacker Memphis Depay should keep his place up front.
The Latvians, on the other hand, suffered a 2-1 loss to Montenegro in the opening match of their World Cup qualifying campaign, meaning that they are low on confidence ahead of the trip to Amsterdam.
Since Frank de Boer’s troops are desperate to pick up all three points from the match, we predict that the underdogs are going to return home empty-handed. Virgil van Dijk is the Netherlands long-term absentee.
Netherlands vs Latvia: Head-to-head (h2h)
Teams Netherlands Latvia played so far 3 matches.
Netherlands won 3 direct matches. Latvia won 0 matches. 0 matches ended in a draw. On average in direct matches both teams scored a 3.67 goals per Match.
Netherlands vs Latvia Prediction
Netherlands in actual season average scored 1.83 goals per match. In 10 (71.43%) matches played at home was total goals (team and opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 8 (57.14%) matches in season 2021 played at home was total goals (team and opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
Latvia average scored 0.71 goals per match in season 2021. In 12 (75.00%) matches played away was total goals (team and opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 5 (31.25%) matches played away team was total goals (team and opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
Team News:
Norwich City's Tim Krul was a surprise starter against Turkey, but despite shipping four goals on the night, he should keep his place after Jasper Cillessen injured himself in the warm up, while Denzel Dumfries is an option for change at right-back.
Klaassen and De Jong are both pushing for starts after finding the back of the net in midweek, and the former will be pushing for inclusion over Marten de Roon, while De Jong's potential recall could see Depay shifted out wide in place of Donyell Malen.
Donny van de Beek and Ryan Gravenberch are also ready to be called upon, but the two midfielders may instead be given a run-out against Gibraltar as De Boer seeks to keep his team fresh.
Latvia defender Elvis Stuglis was forced to pull out of the squad before the Montenegro clash due to health problems, while Vladislavs Gutkovskis and Kaspars Dubra have succumbed to injuries.
Kazakevics spoke positively of his side's performance in midweek so may not see the need to make significant alterations here, meaning another start for Dundalk's Raivis Jurkovskis at left-back.
However, with a trip to Turkey also in mind, the visiting manager has Vitalijs Maksimenko and Alvis Juanzems raring to go from the bench, especially considering that four of his players are walking a tightrope after being booked on Wednesday.
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Krul; Dumfries, De Ligt, Blind, Wijndal; F. De Jong, Klaassen; Berghuis, Wijnaldum, Depay; L. De Jong
Latvia possible starting lineup:
Steinbors; Savalnieks, Oss, Maksimenko; Jurkovskis; Jaunzems, Zjuzins, Tobers, Ciganiks; Ikaunieks, Uldrikis