Republic of Ireland vs Latvia predicted score, key stats, verdict and suggested bets

International friendly, Wednesday March 22, kick-off 7.45pm

Rep of Ireland 1-0 Latvia

Rep of Ireland vs Latvia under 2.5 goals

Rep of Ireland to win to nil

Rep of Ireland have never lost to Latvia

Ireland boast a perfect record against Latvia with five wins from five games, scoring 14 goals and conceding one

Fr: Rep of Ireland 3-0 Latvia, November 2013

EC: Rep of Ireland 2-1 Latvia, October 1995

EC: Latvia 0-3 Rep of Ireland, September 1994

WC: Latvia 0-2 Rep of Ireland, June 1993

WC: Rep of Ireland 4-0 Latvia, September 1992

Ireland will be without Callum Robinson, who is not present in the squad. So his place in attack could go to Troy Parrott. Evan Ferguson played for Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday and so will likely be saved for the France game.

Seamus Coleman is pushing for a recall at wing-back due to Matt Doherty's lack of game time at Atletico Madrid, while Mikey Johnston may be considered for a debut.

Norwich City pair Andrew Omobamidele and Adam Idahreturn to the squad and Jason Knight is back.

Latvia could line up with the same side which earned a creditable draw with Iceland last time out.

Raimonds Krollis was red carded after just 27 minutes and coach Dainis Kazakevics could reward those starters again.

Latvia drew 1-1 with Iceland in the Latvia Cup final in November before losing on penalties

Latvia drew 1-1 with Estonia in the semi-final before winning on pens

Their final Nations League match also ended 1-1 against Andorra

Rep Of Ireland won 1-0 in Malta last time out

Stephen Kenny on Euro 2024 qualifying: "France are formidable and are the best team in the world over the past eight years. Argentina beat them on penalties in the World Cup final but they've got unbelievable players and plenty of them. It's a big challenge.

"There's a lot of history between Ireland and France but we've been building for this. We're desperate to qualify.

"We've got a mountain to climb because of France, Holland and Greece in the group but that's the hand we've been dealt.

"We've got to get on with it to try and make it a really special campaign."

Stephen Kenny's record in charge of Ireland does not look too good, winning just eight of his 30 games in charge. But Kenny, who was appointed in April 2020, was appointed with a view to a longer-term improvement and the next 12 months will be crucial.

He faces an unenviable task in the Euro qualifiers, though, with France, Netherlands and Greece in his group. And while a lot of his thoughts will be on the France game next Monday, he will want to get a win under his belt against Latvia.

Kenny has overseen a 3-0 win over Scotland and creditable draws with Portugal and Belgium have shown just what his young side are capable of.

But there have been some low points too with defeats to Armenia and Luxembourg making Kenny public enemy number one in the Emerald Isle at the time.

Latvia (133rd) are a nation on the up but they are still ranked way below Ireland (44th) and there are still levels to the game at international level.

Latvia are also preparing for their European Championship qualifier against Wales next week - and after a pretty well regarded draw with Iceland, they will fancy their chances in Dublin.

They did top their Nations League Group, gaining promotion to League C with 13 points from six games, including wins over Liechtenstein, Andorra and Moldova.

It's hardly a CV that will have Evan Ferguson and Co shaking in their boots. Although Ferguson may start on the bench having scored twice for Brighton against Grimsby on Sunday.

Goals have not flowed for Ireland of late and they have scored more than once just three times in their last 10 games. And with a number of new faces likely to be on show, it might not be the landslide victory the home fans are hoping for.