Liam Duckstein
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Cyprus host Latvia in the UEFA Nations League on Monday 5 October 2026, and these predicted lineups lean on how settled each manager’s selection has looked across their last three matches. Both sides have shown real continuity in personnel heading into this one, though it’s worth flagging up front that three matches is a limited sample to judge from. With that caveat noted, the picture from recent team news is a fairly clear one for both camps.
Cyprus Predicted Lineup
Apostolos Mantzios appears set to stick with a 4-2-3-1, the formation he prefers as Cyprus’s coach, which also matches the shape used throughout the data sample. The side looks largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, underlining how little rotation we’ve seen in the matches used here. Fabiano has started all three games in the sample and looks a near-certainty between the posts, while Andronikos Kakoullis, with just one start to his name, offers the clearest route for change in this expected XI.
Cyprus predicted XI: Fabiano; Nikolas Panagiotou, Hector Kyprianou, Giorgos Malekkidis, Konstantinos Sotiriou; Grigoris Kastanos, Marcus Edwards, Loizos Loizou, panagiotis andreou, Andronikos Kakoullis; Ioannis Pittas
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Fabiano | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 3 | Nikolas Panagiotou | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 4 | Hector Kyprianou | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 14 | Giorgos Malekkidis | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | Konstantinos Sotiriou | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 20 | Grigoris Kastanos | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 23 | Marcus Edwards | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 10 | Loizos Loizou | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 16 | panagiotis andreou | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 11 | Andronikos Kakoullis | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 9 | Ioannis Pittas | 3/3 | 3/3 |
Predicted Latvia Line-up
Paolo Nicolato looks poised to persist with the 5-4-1 he favours as Latvia’s head coach, the same shape that has recurred throughout the sample used here. Latvia look even more settled than their hosts, with 11 of the projected XI starting their last match, a level of continuity that points to few changes to this predicted line-up. Dennis Cirkin has featured in all three matches in the sample, while Oskars Vientiess has only started once, making him the most likely makeweight if Nicolato opts for a change at the back.
Latvia predicted XI: Rihards Matrevics; Dennis Cirkin, Antonijs Černomordijs, Deniss Meļņiks, Roberts Savalnieks, Oskars Vientiess; Lukass Vapne, Andrejs Cigaņiks, Dmitrijs Zelenkovs, danila patijcuks; Roberts Uldriķis
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 23 | Rihards Matrevics | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 3 | Dennis Cirkin | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 5 | Antonijs Černomordijs | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 21 | Deniss Meļņiks | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 11 | Roberts Savalnieks | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 4 | Oskars Vientiess | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| M | 10 | Lukass Vapne | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 14 | Andrejs Cigaņiks | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 15 | Dmitrijs Zelenkovs | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 6 | danila patijcuks | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 20 | Roberts Uldriķis | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Injuries and Suspensions
Konstantinos Laifis is out injured, thinning Cyprus’s options in defence ahead of this match. Among the bench options, Kostakis Artymatas has started once in the sample and stands out as the most experienced alternative should Mantzios need to freshen things up at the back.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Konstantinos Laifis | D | injured | Muscle bruise |
On the other side, no absentees are recorded in the data for Latvia, leaving Nicolato with a full squad to pick from for this fixture. Vladislavs Gutkovskis, who has started twice in the sample, is the most proven bench option if any late changes are made.
How We Predict These XIs
Each predicted lineup here is built from that team’s last three matches, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones, and any player confirmed injured or suspended removed before the projection is drawn up. This is a projection, not a confirmed team sheet, and it is built on a sample of only three games per side, so it is offered as indicative team news rather than certainty. Expect it to shift once the official lineups are announced closer to kick-off.
Read also: Cyprus vs Latvia Prediction: 05.10.2026 UEFA Nations League
FAQ
What formation will Cyprus and Latvia line up in?
Cyprus are projected to set up in a 4-2-3-1, while Latvia are expected to use a 5-4-1, both based on the shapes used in their recent matches.
Who is predicted to start in goal for Cyprus vs Latvia?
Fabiano has started all three matches in Cyprus’s sample and is projected in goal, while Rihards Matrevics has done the same for Latvia.
Who is unavailable for Cyprus vs Latvia?
Cyprus are without Konstantinos Laifis, who is out injured, while Latvia have no absentees recorded in the data.
When do Cyprus and Latvia kick off?
The UEFA Nations League match between Cyprus and Latvia kicks off on Monday 5 October 2026.