Latvia Vs Norway
Latvia Vs Norway Saturday 4 September, 2021 – 17:00 (BST)
World Cup Qualifier (UEFA)
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 23/20
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 2 September 2021)
Preview: Group G is among the most competitive on the European side, with five teams separated by just four points. Two of those are in action here, as fifth-placed Latvia welcome fourth-placed Norway to the Daugava Stadium in Riga, Latvia.
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Table of Contents
Latvia – Up and running but far from convincing?
For the third game in five, Latvia (W1 D1 L2) scored three to chalk up their first win in Group G. That it was against the lowest ranking team – a Gibraltar outfit ranked 194 in the world – does perhaps take some of the sheen off the victory. As does the performance itself, which wasn’t entirely convincing, needing a couple of late goals to seal the win having been pegged back at 1-1 midway through the second period.
That was only a second win of 2021 (D1 L4). On the flip side, they scored for the fifth game running, a run that begun with a remarkable 3-3 scoreline in Istanbul away to Turkey in their third outing of this group. On the other hand, that is now seven straight matches without a clean sheet having conceded at least twice in five. Which includes defeats to the Netherlands (2-0) and Montenegro (1-2) earlier in the campaign.
Key Stat: There has been 3.75 goals on average in Latvia’s four 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers so far, with each of these games producing Over 1.5 Goals.
Norway – Hungry Haaland can only do so much?
With Wednesday’s 1-1 stalemate in Oslo against the Netherlands in the books and only one automatic qualifying berth up for grabs, the Norwegians know there is work to be done in Group G if they are to secure a spot at Qatar 2022. Former Wolves manager Stale Solbakken has seen his side collect seven of a possible twelve points so far (W2 D1 L1), as they trail group leaders Turkey by a solitary point.
That man, Erling Haaland, helped orchestrate a hard-earned point last time. Surprisingly, though, that was his first goal of this qualifying campaign. Norway have notched five times in all so far, three coming in their routine 3-0 victory over Gibraltar in March. Worryingly, they have not managed more than one strike in eight of their past nine internationals, netting exactly one in each of the last four.
Key Stat: Norway are yet to concede an away goal in 2022 World Cup Qualifying, after 3-0 and 1-0 wins in Gibraltar and Montenegro respectively, but did concede in all six away encounters prior to this campaign.
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Latvia Vs Norway Betting Advice
Despite boasting one of the hottest strikers in world football, Norway still aren’t producing the goods on a regular basis. Wednesday’s draw at home to the Netherlands leaves them on two wins from four in the group. Moreover, they’ve won only three of six matches so far this year – and when you consider two of those were regulation victories against Gibraltar and Luxembourg, you sense the concerns are legitimate.
Latvia Vs Norway – Key Facts:
- Sunday sees Latvia take on Norway for the first time in more than two decades (since a 2-1 win for Norway in 1999). Both prior meetings produced wins for the away side on the day.
- Norway haven’t conceded on their travels in WC Qualifying so far, however Latvia have scored – and seen Both Teams To Score land – in three of four qualifying games.
- Despite accruing three fewer points so far, Latvia, with seven goals, have scored more across their four qualifying games than the Norwegians (5).
This is Latvia, though. Their midweek win at home to lowly Gibraltar was their first of the campaign (D1 L2), one which has seen them score more than the Norwegians but garner three fewer points. Both teams have now scored in each of their last five matches, and while Norway boast an unblemished defensive record in Group G so far, it is worth remembering they did concede in the six away matches prior to qualifying.
Best Betting Odds – Latvia Vs Norway
Latvia – 10/1 (Betfair)
Draw – 9/2 (BetFred)
Norway – 2/7 (PaddyPower)
