Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup Qualification match.
After a fairly routine debut from Thomas Tuchel in England’s dugout, fans at Wembley will be expecting a far more dominant attacking display against Latvia. The German tactician is set to experiment with new combinations, giving fringe players a chance to impress — and that usually spells trouble for a side like Latvia.
England
In Friday’s win over Albania (2:0), England were in full control from the off, with Myles Lewis-Skelly opening the scoring early and the underdogs retreating into damage control. They registered 1.58 xG with 74% possession, and the difference in shots on target was even more telling (6-0). That was their fourth consecutive victory, with 13 goals scored across those games. Expect to see fresh faces like Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, and Dominic Solanke given a chance to shine.
Latvia
Latvia, meanwhile, narrowly avoided embarrassment in Andorra, edging out the group’s weakest side (1:0) thanks to a second-half strike from substitute Dario Šits. But the performance was uninspiring: just 0.47 xG and two shots on target across 90 minutes. Before that, Latvia hadn’t won away from home in nearly three years, going winless in 11 straight matches on the road (eight losses, three draws).
England vs Latvia Prediction
This marks the first-ever meeting between England and Latvia, and it’s likely to be one-sided. While the visitors might manage to frustrate the hosts early on, England’s squad depth and attacking firepower should break through as the game wears on — especially with competition for starting spots at stake.
