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Match preview for England v Latvia
England and Latvia are set to face off at Wembley Stadium on Monday evening in a World Cup 2026 qualifying match.
Both sides come into the match following victories in their openers, with England dispatching Albania 2-0 and Latvia edging out Andorra 1-0.
Thomas Tuchel’s tenure as England manager started on a positive note, continuing a long-standing trend for Three Lions coaches.
The German tactician became the 11th consecutive full-time England manager to secure victory in his first match in charge.
England’s formidable record in World Cup qualifiers remains intact. Their unbeaten streak at this stage now stretches to 32 matches, dating back to 2009.
Moreover, they have not suffered a home defeat in World Cup qualifying since a loss to Germany in 2000.
While England aim for a straightforward qualification, Latvia are seeking to reach the World Cup finals for the first time as an independent nation.
Energy levels = 📈
— England (@England) March 23, 2025
Currently sitting second in the group behind England on goal difference, Latvia face a tough road ahead with teams like Serbia and Albania also vying for qualification spots.
Despite struggling in the Nations League – where they finished bottom of League C Group 4 and now risk relegation – Latvia are unbeaten in their last five away fixtures in the World Cup qualifying campaigns, having earned draws against Turkey and Norway in 2021 and securing recent wins over Gibraltar and Andorra.
Monday’s fixture marks the first-ever senior men’s international meeting between England and Latvia.
Team news for England v Latvia
Friday’s win was overshadowed by a concerning injury to Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon. The winger, who replaced Marcus Rashford in the second half, was forced off due to injury.
Tuchel admitted post-match that Gordon’s situation was “a bit worrying,” and he has since withdrawn from the squad.
Tuchel is expected to rotate his lineup, giving opportunities to players such as Reece James, Jordan Henderson, Levi Colwill, and Jarrod Bowen.
The omission of Aaron Ramsdale, Jarell Quansah, and Morgan Gibbs-White from Friday’s matchday squad may also change, with Gibbs-White now in contention due to Gordon’s absence.
Latvia emerged unscathed from their victory against Andorra.
Midfielder Deniss Melniks was replaced at half-time, but the change appeared to be a tactical switch rather than injury-related. Paolo Nicolato may opt for a more defensive setup at Wembley, though match-winner Sits has staked a claim for a starting role.
Our pride 🦁 pic.twitter.com/9p4tH92PMZ
— England (@England) March 23, 2025
Expected line-ups for England v Latvia
England: Pickford; James, Guehi, Colwill, Livramento; Rice, Henderson; Bowen, Bellingham, Rogers; Kane.
Latvia: Zviedris; Jurkovskis, Balodis, Cernomordijs; Savalnieks, Melniks, Savaljevs, Ciganiks; Zelenkovs, Ikaunieks; Gutkovskis.
How to watch England v Latvia: TV channel, online stream
England v Latvia will kick-off at 19:45 on Monday evening and is available to watch on ITV1. Fans in the UK can also stream the match on the STV Player or ITV Hub.
The stats for England v Latvia
Prediction
England’s display against Albania may not have been flawless, but their quality should be more than enough to secure a convincing win over Latvia.
Even with a defensive setup, the visitors are unlikely to cope with the attacking firepower Tuchel has at his disposal.
Expect another comfortable victory as England continues their strong start to qualifying.
Prediction: England 5-0 Latvia
