Latvia vs Serbia Prediction, Preview, News, Odds: 6/9/2025

Latvia’s World Cup dream faces another stern test as they prepare to host Serbia in a Group F qualifier on September 6. The Baltic nation has only ever appeared at one major tournament—Euro 2004—and the road to the 2026 World Cup looks just as daunting. While Latvia has shown resilience in patches, Serbia arrives with one of the most formidable attacking lineups in Europe, making this a classic clash of underdog spirit against heavyweight firepower.

Latvia’s Long Road

Latvia opened their qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Andorra before falling 3–0 away to England. They showed grit in June, holding Albania to a 1–1 draw at home. Still, inconsistency remains an issue, reflecting struggles from their Nations League C campaign in 2024, where they finished bottom of their group against North Macedonia, Armenia, and the Faroe Islands.

Their squad is built around largely domestic-based players. Captain Antonijs Černomordijs leads from defense, while striker pair Jānis Ikaunieks (RFS, 12 goals in 68 caps) and Vladislavs Gutkovskis (Daejeon, 11 goals in 54 caps) carry the team’s attacking hopes. In their last match, Černomordijs endured a rollercoaster—scoring an own goal before redeeming himself with an equalizer. Latvia’s fight is unquestioned, but the lack of star power may prove decisive against Serbia’s elite.

Serbia’s Firepower

Serbia, under manager Dragan Stojković, has been steadily establishing itself as a serious force. After finishing behind Spain and Denmark but ahead of Switzerland in the 2024 Nations League A group, they survived a relegation playoff against Austria, winning 3–1 on aggregate to retain their spot.

Though missing several names—goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić (Napoli), defender Strahinja Simić, and midfielders Ivan Ilić and Nemanja Maksimović—Serbia’s depth remains impressive. Up front, Aleksandar Mitrović (Al Hilal, 62 goals in 100 caps) leads the line, supported by Dušan Vlahović (Juventus, 14 goals in 36 caps) and Luka Jović (AEK Athens, 11 goals in 45 caps). Mitrović reminded everyone of his finishing prowess with a hat-trick against Andorra earlier in the campaign.

Defensively, Serbia boasts experienced options such as Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest, 65 caps), Strahinja Pavlović (AC Milan, 46 caps), Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilla, 70 caps), and Sasa Lukić (Fulham, 56 caps). Goalkeeper Djordje Petrović, now at Bournemouth, has stepped up as the team’s number one.

Prediction

Latvia will likely sit deep, hoping to frustrate Serbia and snatch chances on the counter through Ikaunieks or Gutkovskis. However, Serbia’s balance of experience, physicality, and lethal finishing power makes them heavy favorites. Their ability to keep clean sheets—11 in their last 17 competitive fixtures—suggests Latvia’s scoring opportunities will be rare.

Serbia’s attacking trio should prove too much for the Latvians, who have managed only fleeting moments of inspiration in recent campaigns. Expect Mitrović and Vlahović to find the net, with Serbia tightening their grip on Group F while Latvia faces an uphill climb to stay competitive.

Final Prediction: Latvia 0 – 3 Serbia