Ireland vs Latvia prediction 22.03.2023

• Competition: Friendly match
• Date: Wednesday, 22nd March 2023
• Kickoff: 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
• Venue: Aviva Stadium

Ireland didn't play at EURO since 2016. They have a tough qualification group with France, Netherlands, Greece, and Gibraltar, so Ireland will likely stay empty-handed again. Of course, Stephen Kenny's will do their best to make a big surprise and sneak in front of France or Netherlands. Ireland won two of the last three matches. In the previous game, they won 1-0 on the road against Malta. Ireland was much better in that match, so they even could win with a greater margin. 

Ireland are playing very well at the home stadium. They lost only two of the last ten matches in Ireland. 

Latvia only made one appearance at a major competition, so it is hard to imagine them finishing among the two best teams in the group with Croatia, Turkey, Wales, and Armenia. Realistically, Latvia will likely fight with Armenia for fourth place in the group. Latvia's last matches had at Baltic Cup last November, where they finished 2nd after they lost in the final after penalties against Iceland. 

Latvia usually have problems with scoring goals. They scored only four goals in the last four matches. 

Ireland and Latvia had five h2h matches since Latvia's independence. In every one of those five games, the Irish side won. The last h2h match was played in 2013 when Ireland won 3-0 at home. 

Ireland vs Latvia pick: Ireland to win and cover AH -1.5 spread

Ireland are probably one or two levels ahead of Latvia, so I expect Ireland to win and cover AH -1.5 spread on Wednesday night at Aviva Stadium.