“The final” for the 1st place in the group! That was the match between Romania and Kosovo at the National Arena, in the penultimate stage of the League of Nations. If for us a draw was equivalent to winning the series, on the other hand, the national team prepared by the German Franco Foda (58 years old) had only one option: victory. Which was reflected in the game, in the first 45 minutes.
Radu Drăgușin (left) had a colossal intervention in the first half. PHOTO: Facebook
If the moment of the anthem was “won“, clearly by Romania, with the stellar performance of Irina Baiant, which Adevărul will offer here, when the game started, the Kosovars pretty much made the law on the lawn. To the displeasure of Mircea Lucescu (79 years old), the Romanian coach being like a “lion in the cage“on the edge. But in vain! His nerves and his shouts at the players produced only one notable, admittedly great, opportunity for the tricolors. That was only in the 41st minute, when Stanciu’s shot hit the crossbar.
Until this opportunity for Romania, Kosovo dominated the game and only Niță’s interventions prevented the opening of the score. It all culminated with the monumental double chance in the 29th minute. Then, Muriqi deflected the header for Zhegrova. He took advantage of “hole” from our defense and shot towards the goal from a few meters. Drăgușin, however, recovered heroically and repelled with the toe of his boot. In the continuation of the phase, Muriqi came from behind and fired hard, but this time it was Niță’s turn to make a save. Commentator Felix Drăghici’s conclusion? A very inspiring one: “Niță’s intervention is the first goal of the evening for us…“.
At halftime, Romania – Kosovo was 0-0, after a match very far from the level shown by the tricolors, on September 6, in Pristina, when they crushed the same national team of the state of Kosovo, without emotions, with 3-0 .
Stanciu stayed at the cabins
Unfortunately, the second half started with the substitution of Stanciu, injured at the end of the first half. The captain remained at the cabins, Darius Olaru being introduced in his place.
Paradoxically, Romania’s game improved, despite the loss of Stanciu. And the corner executed by Olaru, from the left, brought us a great opportunity, after Burcă’s deflection, the ball narrowly missed the goal (56).
After this moment, Kosovo slowly regained control of the game, but without the big chances of the first half. That was until Vojvoda was close to a goal, in the 79th minute, but Nita saved us, once again. Another notable event was the introduction of Ianis Hagi, in the 89th minute, in place of Drăguș, lest the midfielder who makes the touch at Rangers miss any of the national team’s matches in 2024.
99.9% we will win 3-0
It’s over… actually, it’s not over. Because, after an explosive end, Romania – Kosovo was suspended after a wait of over an hour!!! At the score of 0-0, because the guests left the field and were carried away, as Adevărul wrote here.
Almost certainly, Romania will win the match at “green table“, score 3-0. What does “Mission accomplished” for us. Here’s why:
Firstly, the win secures us 1st place in the group with one stage to go before the end of the Nations League campaign. Which means that, at the next edition of the competition, in the 2026-2027 season, we will play in League B.
Then by winning the group we will also ensure “the lifeline” in view of the World Cup in 2026. Because, if we miss the qualification through the traditional preliminaries, then, very likely, we will have the play-off option. But until then, Romania secured its presence in the 2nd ballot box, at the draw for the WC 2026 preliminaries, an event that will take place on December 13, in Zurich (Switzerland).
48,957
of spectators they were at the National Arena, on Friday evening, in the match between Romania and Kosovo.
Nations League C, Group 2
Friday
Cyprus – Lithuania 2-1
Romania – Kosovo suspended at 0-0
Ranking
1. Romania 4 4 0 0 11-2 12
2. Kosovo 4 3 0 1 9-4 9
3. Cyprus 5 2 0 3 3-11 6
4. Lithuania 5 0 0 5 4-10 0
1st place promotes to League B. 2nd place will go to a promotion play-off and last place risks relegation to League D.
The complete program of the tricolors
*September 6: Kosovo – Romania 0-3
*September 9: Romania – Lithuania 3-1
*October 12: Cyprus – Romania 0-3
*October 15: Lithuania – Romania 1-2
*Friday: Romania – Kosovo suspended at 0-0
*Monday, 21.45 (Prima TV): Romania – Cyprus
Lot of Romania
Goalkeepers: Niță (Damac), Târnovanu (FCSB), R. Sava (Udinese)
Defenders: Rațiu (Rayo Vallecano), Manea (Rapid), Drăgușin (Tottenham), Rus (Pisa), Burcă (Bani Yas), Pașcanu (Rapid), M. Ilie (CFR Cluj), Bancu (Universitatea Craiova)
Midfielders: Sorescu (Gaziantep), M. Marin (Pisa), R. Marin (Cagliari), Stanciu (Damac), Olaru (FCSB), Șut (FCSB), Man (Parma), Mihăilă (Parma), I. Hagi ( Rangers), Coman (Al-Gharafa), Mitriță (Universitatea Craiova), Miculescu (FCSB)
Forwards: Drăguș (Trabzonspor), Alibec (Farul), Bîrligea (FCSB)
Selector: Mircea Lucescu
