Germany vs Latvia Prediction 17 May 2026

🏆 Germany head into this clash after falling 1-3 to Finland in their World Championship opener. In fact, across their last five official fixtures, Germany have suffered four defeats and managed just one win. Looking at a broader sample, the Germans average only 2.5 goals per game over their previous ten outings, while conceding even more-2.8 per contest-forcing the team to adopt a more cautious approach defensively.

Their back line has yet to inspire much confidence: even in yesterday’s game, the goalie faced plenty of action. There’s also been a noticeable dip in attacking output at the start of the tournament: just one goal in the opening match and no clear offensive edge suggest the coaching staff are still searching for the right combinations up front. Nevertheless, Germany are known for ramping up their intensity in the second half of games and often look to turn things around through discipline and physicality.

⚡️ Latvia head into this clash on the back of a 2-4 defeat to Switzerland. Over their last five competitive outings, the Latvians have managed just one win and suffered four losses-a clear sign of their recent struggles. On average across their past 10 matches, Latvia score 2.2 goals per game while conceding 3.4, highlighting defensive issues and a lack of consistency up front.

The start of the tournament has also been less than convincing: netting just two goals in their opener against the World Championship hosts suggests that Latvia can create chances, but their finishing remains inconsistent. Historically, Latvia look to ramp up the intensity in the second period-a trend underscored by the fact that in six of their last seven World Championship games, there have been over 1.5 total goals scored in the middle frame. This points to the team’s ability to raise their aggression after the first intermission.