Preview: Latvia vs. Norway - prediction, team news, lineups

Following a hard-earned point in midweek, Norway travel to Latvia in search of a win to boost their hopes of qualifying for Qatar 2022.

While Staale Solbakken's side held the Netherlands to a draw, their opponents this Saturday took care of business against World Cup Qualifying Group G minnows Gibraltar.

Match preview

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Once again, Norway's most famous footballing son demonstrated his potential - and current capabilities - on Wednesday night, as Erling Braut Haaland got the better of Virgil van Dijk to latch onto Stefan Strandberg's lofted ball and give his nation the lead, despite the Liverpool defender's desperate attempts to block.

Van Dijk has freely stated that Haaland is already "one of the best strikers in the world" and the Borussia Dortmund striker's personal figures on the international stage closely match his club exploits, after his first-half strike made it eight goals in 13 games for Norway.

However, the home side could not hang on to the points, as Davy Klaassen soon equalised, leaving the Norwegians fourth in the group but level with Montenegro and the Netherlands on seven points - just behind leaders Turkey, on eight.

Hoping to reach their first World Cup tournament this century, the side captained by young Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard started the process with a regulation 3-0 victory against Gibraltar, but then lost to Turkey by the same scoreline having been reduced to 10 men.

Staale Solbakken's men bounced back straight away with a win in Montenegro, before several months of competitive hiatus were ended by their resolute draw with the Dutch.

Such results will build confidence for a nation which has failed to reach the final stages since 1998, but must be followed up with maximum points in the coming week - as Saturday's game is followed with the return fixture against Gibraltar.

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Having collected just one point from their opening three games last March, in midweek, Latvia were relieved to record their first win of World Cup qualifying with a 3-1 defeat of Group G fall-guys Gibraltar.

Centre-forward Vladislavs Gutkovskis, a regular scorer in the Polish Ekstraklasa, bagged a brace for the home side, as they finally broke their duck at the fourth time of asking.

Dainis Kazakevics had previously seen his side begin the process with a home clash against Montenegro, which ended in defeat, as did their next clash with the Netherlands.

They then managed to pull off one of their most memorable results in recent years, against Turkey; earning a commendable point after an eventful 3-3 draw in Istanbul.

Certainly, the Wolves will need to find similar inspiration to handle Haaland, Odegaard and company this weekend, as they seek a shock victory to keep faint hopes of a playoff push alive.

Team News

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Staale Solbakken may shake up his side a little due to a schedule of three games in a week, so Mohamed Elyounoussi and Jens Petter Hauge could be among those who make way, with Watford striker Joshua King a candidate to join Erling Haaland up front.

Alexander Sorloth - who has 11 goals in 32 appearances for his country - is another contender to start, or at least feature in the second half.

Brentford's Kristoffer Ajer could also be drafted into the starting XI, after spending the draw with the Netherlands on the bench, while in Rune Jarstein's absence due to COVID-19 infection, Bournemouth goalkeeper Orjan Nyland will again compete with Andre Hansen to start as the visitors' last line of defence.

Latvia, meanwhile, are expected to be led by Roberts Uldrikis and Vladislavs Gutkovskis in attack, though it has been suggested they may opt to switch to a 4-5-1 for the visit of Norway.

Midfielders Arturs Zjuzins and Janis Ikaunieks are the home side's joint-top active scorers in international football, with seven goals apiece, and both are also likely to be involved on Saturday, as they look for their nation's first victory over the Norwegians since September 1998.

Latvia possible starting lineup:
Steinbors; Savalnieks, Oss, Cernomordijs, Jurkovskis; Tobers, Zjuzins; Savalnieks, Uldrikis, Ikaunieks; Gutkovskis

Norway possible starting lineup:
Hansen; Pedersen, Strandberg, Ajer, Meling; Odegaard, Thorsby, Berg, Hauge; Haaland, Sorloth

We say: Latvia 1-3 Norway

Norway's new generation have an abundance of talent in the final third, with several players capable of causing Latvia headaches - even if Solbakken decides to rotate his resources.

Their forward options - allied to a solid base, which largely kept the Netherlands at bay - are set to secure all three points, before finishing off a successful spell with another win at home to Gibraltar.