World Cup qualifier, Monday, 24/03/2025 at 8:45 p.m.
The brave Albanians were not steamrolled, but Latvia is very much an opponent that could be outclassed by the “Three Lions”. Almost all betting providers with PayPal are in any case firmly assuming this scenario in their respective England Latvia odds.
And in my England Latvia betting tip for you, which I have just prepared, I am not ruling out the prospect that the Balts could be showered with up to half a dozen goals on Monday.
England kicked off their World Cup qualifiers with a confident 2-0 win over Albania under coach Thomas Tuchel.
Particularly notable was the performance of 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who became the youngest player in English football history to score on his debut. Now, England face Latvia in their second Group K game.
This clash is a historic one, as it is the first time the two nations have met – and with a difference of 136 places in the FIFA world rankings, they are worlds apart, so to speak.
The statistics speak for themselves: England have not lost a home game in World Cup qualifying since October 2000 (26 wins, 3 draws). It is noteworthy that in 12 of their last 15 wins, the “Three Lions” kept a clean sheet.
Interestingly, two of the last three English coaches to take charge of at least five matches have won their first two games without conceding a goal.
So that’s an extremely good omen for a possible football bet of the kind “England win 0-0” at odds of currently around 1.27, don’t you think?
Latvia, on the other hand, started their qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over Andorra. Nevertheless, they are aware that the task against England will be much more difficult.
In their history, they have never won against a team from the top ten of the FIFA world rankings (2 draws, 21 defeats).
Nevertheless, they could make history with an upset and get closer to their dream of their first World Cup appearance. But is that really realistic? I don’t think so.
On a positive note, Latvia have won their last two away World Cup qualifiers, albeit against teams ranked 171st and 196th in the FIFA rankings. So beating England would be a victory of biblical proportions.
Given their current form and quality, the bookmakers are certainly tipping Tuchel’s team as clear favorites for Monday’s game. At Winamax Sports, the odds for a home win for England are on average as low as 1.10.
Given England’s offensive strength, a handicap bet could be interesting. A win for England with a handicap of -3 is rated at odds of 2.05.
England’s strong defense and Latvia’s limited offensive power also suggest that Latvia will not score a goal. However, the odds for this are 1.27 on average, so it’s not really worth mentioning.
Incidentally, the Three Lions have scored in the first 20 minutes in four of their last five World Cup qualifiers. A bet that they will take an early lead again next Monday currently promises odds of 2.25.
To do that, you need to install a reputable betting app on your phone and select the “Goal within the first 15 minutes” option. For me, this is a reasonably safe scenario, as the hosts are almost guaranteed to start off aggressively.
In summary, there is a lot to be said for England’s clear victory. Their impressive home record and the palpable sense of a new era dawning under Thomas Tuchel leave little doubt about the outcome of the game.
Nevertheless, you should always be careful in football, as surprises cannot be ruled out. That said, I find it difficult to imagine a single scenario in which the game could still be reasonably exciting even after 15 minutes.
The fans of the “Three Lions” were not particularly impressed by their performance against Albania, which is why I firmly believe that Tuchel’s team will use this mediocre performance as an opportunity to outclass the Balts.
My England Latvia tip: ENG win with handicap -4.
