Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Montenegro will look to bounce back from a heavy 4-0 loss to Netherlands when they take on Latvia at Podgorica City Stadium on Tuesday evening. The Montenegrins aim to keep their WC qualification hopes alive, and they are likely to go all guns blazing at the Latvians. Even though key attacker Stevan Jovetic remains in the recovery room, home win should be considered as Latvia have slim chances of securing a top-two finish.
Dainis Kazakevics’ troops failed to impress in a 2-0 loss to Norway where first-choice goalkeeper Pavels Steinbors picked up an injury. Montenegro are a real force to be reckoned with at home; therefore, we predict that the visitors are going to return to Riga empty-handed. In their last meeting in a competitive match Montenegro defeated Latvia 2-1, and there is every chance the history will repeat itself.
Highlighted Player (Nikola Vukcevic):
Nikola Vukcevic is yet another Montenegro footballer who plays for Braga as a midfielder. The 184-cm-tall player was born in Podgorica on 13 December, 1991. Vukcevic began his senior career at his hometown club Buducnost Podgorica and he was part of the team from 2010 to 2013.
The Montenegro footballer scored four goals in 65 league appearances for the club. In 2013 he joined Braga as a free player and he initially played for the reserve team. After making 31 appearances for Braga B he made his debut for the first team against Vitoria, coming from the bench in the stoppage time. Speaking of his international career, Nikola Vukcevic made his Montenegro debut against Ghana on 5 March, 2014 in a friendly game.
The Hrabri sokoli defeated the Black Stars back then. His main position is defensive midfielder, but he plays as a central midfielder and as attacking midfielder as well. Nikola’s contract with Braga expires on 30 June, 2020.
Highlighted Team (Latvia):
Latvia is yet another former Soviet republic. The Latvian footballers played for the Soviet Union national team until 1992 and they have been playing for Latvia ever since. The Sarkanbaltsarkanie (Red-white-red) did remarkably well to qualify for the Euro 2004 finals, but they failed to impress at the showpiece tournament in Portugal.
Latvia kicked off their Euro 2004 campaign with a 2-1 loss to Czech Republic and they managed to hold Germany to a goalless draw in their second group game. The former Soviet republic suffered a 3-0 loss to Netherlands in their last game in Group D and, as a result, they did not make it to the knockout stages of the European Championship finals.
Latvia suffered their biggest defeat on May 29, 1927 when they were beaten by Sweden 12-0 in Stockholm. Speaking of their biggest victory, the Latvians outclassed Lithuania 5-0 on two occasions. The Latvian national football team play their home games at Skonto stadium in Riga and the capacity of the venues is 9.500.