Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Latvia
Match Time & Date:
08/10/2021
20:45
Prediction: 0-4
Netherlands
Latvia and Netherlands face each other in a David-vs-Goliath 2022 World Cup qualifier. Netherlands aim to retain top position in the standings, and they are likely to go all guns blazing at Latvia. Memphis Depay, who impressed in a 6-1 crushing of Turkey, will be the man to watch in the away team, while talented Club Brugge attacker Noa Lang has received his first call-up. Frankie de Jong of Barcelona and PSG ace Georginio Wijnaldum highlight the squad.
The Latvians, on the other hand, missed out on a place at the next year’s showpiece tournament, and seeing that they have nothing to play for in Friday’s qualifier, anything but a routine away win would be a major surprise. Rakow attacker Vladislavs Gutkovskis is banned for the hosts, which is yet another reason why away win should be considered.
Highlighted Player (Memphis Depay):
Memphis Depay is a Dutch winger who started his professional career at PSV Eindhoven. During the 2014/2015 Eredivisie campaign the pacey footballer was on Manchester United’s radar and on June 12, 2015 the Premier League club confirmed the signing of the Dutchman. Many people expected that he would impress in the 2015/2016 Premier League season, but the former PSV ace played below expectations for the Red Devils, scoring only two goals (one assist) during the season.
After playing only for league games for Man Utd in the 2016/2017 season, Memphis Depay was sold to Olympique Lyon on January 20, 2017. Depay signed a four-and-a-half year deal with les Gones for a fee of around £16 million. The Dutch winger was producing fine performances for Lyon in the 2016/2017 season; he scored five goals for the club, while providing eight assists for his teammates.
Memphis Depay made his senior debut for Netherlands on October 15, 2013 in a 2-0 win over Turkey. Depay did well to win the 2011 European Championship with Netherlands U17 team.
Highlighted Team (Netherlands):
Netherlands are well known for the colour of their shirts. The orange colour is the symbol of the Dutch national team and that is the reason why they got a nickname the Oranje. Netherlands won the 1988 European Championship in West Germany, with the team beating the Soviet Union in the title game.
A number of top-class players were part of the Netherlands national team that won the Euro 1988 trophy, with the likes of Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Erwin Koeman all starting the match against the Soviet Union. However, many people consider Johan Cruyff the best player in the history of Dutch football. Cruyff won three European Cups with Ajax as a player and he clinched the European Cup with Barcelona as a coach.
Johan Cruyff is well known as “the father of modern football”. Netherlands participated in the World Cup final on three occasions (1974, 1978, 2010), but they have yet to win the prestigious trophy. The Oranje welcome their rivals at Amsterdam ArenA, Philips Stadion and Stadion Feijenoord.
