Germany vs Latvia: Latvia to keep it closer than the odds suggest

Germany host Latvia at Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf on Monday in an international friendly ahead of their Euro 2020 campaign beginning against France eight days later.

Fresh off a 1-1 draw with Denmark, Germany will welcome Latvia to the Merkur Spiel Arena Stadium.

Germany have been inconsistent over the last nine months. They have won five of 12 matches in that run which includes a 6-0 thrashing against Spain in the UEFA Nations League.

Germany’s last match was a 1-1 draw against Denmark in an international friendly.

Latvia, meanwhile, claimed a 3-1 win over Lithuania and will aim to build on that performance.

Latvia are undefeated in 10 of their last 13 matches, but many of those came against the likes of Andorra, Malta and Faroe Islands.

In the first of their two international friendly games, Germany were held to a 1-1 draw by Denmark at the Tivoli Neu Stadium.

Prior to that, Germany had picked up six points from three games in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers back in March.

They currently occupy third position in Group J, three points behind first-place Armenia and level on points with North Macedonia.

Latvia, on the other hand, are second-bottom in Group G after suffering two losses and one draw in their three World Cup qualifiers in March.

Germany vs Latvia predictions:

• Germany have failed to win in their last 2 matches (all competitions).
• Germany have not won by 4+ goals in their last 12 matches (all competitions).
• Germany have kept 3 clean sheets in their last 13 matches (all competitions).
• Latvia have not lost by 4+ goals in their last 14 matches (all competitions).
• Latvia are undefeated in 10 of their last 13 matches (all competitions).
• Latvia have scored 12 goals in their last 5 matches (all competitions).

This will be the fourth meeting between the two nations. Germany are unbeaten against Latvia, picking up two wins and one draw. Their last encounter came back in 2004, when both sides played out an uneventful goalless draw.

Germany and Latvia have faced each other just three times in the past. Germany have a 2-0 advantage against Latvia with 1 draw in 3 matches.

They last met in the 2004 European Championship group stage which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Germany were unbeaten in 21 of their last 24 overall fixtures, and they have lost just thrice at home in the past four-year period.

On the other hand, their counterparts were winless in 41 of their former 47 overall match.

Germany have failed to win in their last two outings and will look to end this run ahead of the forthcoming Euro 2020 competition.

Given the gulf in quality and experience between the two nations, we predict Germany will claim the win.

Our prediction: Germany win @ 1.03