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Sports Mole previews Thursday's Euro Champ Qualifying clash between Latvia and Armenia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Still seeking their first point in Euro 2024 qualifying, Latvia welcome Armenia to Riga on Thursday for their sixth Group D fixture.

Two losses last month left the Latvians cut adrift at the bottom of the table, but their visitors remain in contention for a place in Germany next summer.

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Match preview

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Making it five defeats from five in European Championship qualifying Group D, Latvia were beaten 2-0 at home by Wales last time out and seem destined to finish last in their section.

Defying the odds to reach Euro 2004 seems a long time ago now for the small Baltic nation, who have lost 10 of their last 12 home qualifiers for the Euros following their latest setback in September.

Defeat to Wales followed a 5-0 thumping in Croatia just days earlier - a far cry from Latvia's first few fixtures, when the Wolves came close to picking up points on more than one occasion.

Back in June, Latvia twice came within minutes of a draw, first losing to this week's opponents via a stoppage-time penalty in Armenia, then 3-2 to Turkey despite equalising in the 94th minute through captain Kristers Tobers.

Following a positive UEFA Nations League campaign, when coach Dainis Kazakevics led his side to promotion from League D, the Latvians now have just three games left to get off the mark in Euro 2024 qualifying and salvage some pride. Already seven points shy of the nearest nation above them, that is the best outcome they can hope for.

© Reuters

Level with Wales, one of two teams sitting just above Latvia in the standings is Armenia, who are also only three points behind Group D's top two.

Seeking a first-ever major tournament appearance, the Armenians therefore remain very much in the mix with three matches to go, although group favourites and current leaders Croatia have one game in hand.

Ahead of next month's finale, former Ukraine coach Oleksandr Petrakov will want to capitalise on progress made so far - such as a summertime win in Wales - and also keep within range of second-placed Turkey.

The top two in each section automatically book a ticket for Germany, so holding their old foes to a 1-1 in September - and they could even have won, had Turkey not produced a late leveller in Eskisehir - kept Armenia's dreams alive.

Leaning heavily on a widespread Armenian diaspora, Petrakov has incorporated players such as Argentina-born pair Lucas Zelarayan and Norberto Briasco into a squad that may have lost 1-0 at home to Croatia last month but could yet break new ground for the former Soviet nation.

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Team News

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Not only are Latvia lagging behind in Group D, they are also set to be without several important players this week, most notably former Rakow Czestochowa striker Vladislavs Gutkovskis, who played a pivotal part in winning the Polish title last season and scored eight times across the most recent World Cup qualifiers and Nations League campaign.

Left-back Raivis Jurkovskis is also out injured, while captain Kristers Tobers must serve a suspension. Furthermore, key defender Antonijs Cernomordijs may not be fit until Sunday's game against Turkey.

More positively, midfield duo Oskars Vientiess and Bogdans Samoilovs have been selected by Dainis Kazakevics for the first time - the latter leads Latvia's Virsliga in assists (10) this season.

Meanwhile, Armenia have dropped Koln striker Sargis Adamyan due to a lack of first-team action in the Bundesliga, but Russia-born Edgar Sevikyan earns a first senior call-up and will compete with Grant-Leon Ranos - who bagged a brace in June's win over Wales - for selection up front.

Among many players born abroad, Ranos joins Sweden-born defender Andre Calisir and defensive midfielder Ugochukwu Iwu - originally from Nigeria - in the visitors' squad.

Slovan Bratislava winger Tigran Barseghyan is the Armenians' leading active scorer with nine goals, including the late winner when they last met Latvia, four months ago.

Latvia possible starting lineup:
Ozols; Savalnieks, Oss, Dubra, Sorokins; Jaunzems, Emsis, Saveljevs, J. Ikaunieks; Uldrikis, Krollis

Armenia possible starting lineup:
Cancarevic; Calisir, Harutyunyan, Mkrtchyan; Dashyan, Iwu, Spertsyan, Tiknizyan; Zelarayan, Barseghyan; Ranos

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We say: Latvia 0-2 Armenia

No goals in September's qualifiers - and no points overall - Latvia's woes show just how difficult Thursday's clash at Skonto Stadions could be for the home team. As Armenia also arrive in Riga motivated by the chance of a top-two finish in Group D, the visitors should depart with maximum points.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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