Ireland have met Latvia on four previous occasions with one Irish striker proving the scourge of the Baltic nation. John Aldridge scored eight times against the Latvians including a hat-trick at Lansdowne Road that sent Ireland on their way to World Cup qualification.
Shane Long could be set to follow in the footsteps of John Aldridge by becoming the darling of the Anfield Kop. Ireland’s forward is a target for Liverpool in the January transfer window, according to newspaper reports. The in-form striker has scored seven goals this season to push West Brom to an unlikely fourth in the Premier League.