Romania has lost two parties of the three disputes in the preliminaries of the 2026 World Cup, drastically reducing its chances of qualifying for next year’s final tournament, hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. As the tricolor game creaks from all the wrists (a situation found even in the League of Nations last autumn), Mircea Lucescu is thinking of starting the lot.
Mircea Lucescu promises that he brings new players to the national team. PHOTO SportPictures
At the match with Austria (1-2), the average age of tricolors was 29 years and two months. Even though he tested several perspective players over the time, the coach went to the Vena match on the hands of ordinary holders. As their evolution was disastrous, the coach has not been aware that he cannot endure the players to say consecrated, so he promises that new names will appear in the future actions of the national.
“Why not beat Austria and Bosnia in return? In the meantime, maybe other players will come, we need to think about the average age of our team, we have to improve this. For now, we want to build a game pattern that should be valid throughout Romanian football. Sadness, a disappointment, but taking into account how I left … “explained Mircea Lucescu.
Holders with Austria, Chiricheș and Burcă are 67 years old.
The specialists provide that Andrei Borza (Rapid, 19 years old) will take the place of Nicușor Bancu in the left band, and Andrei Burcă will be replaced by Matei Ilie (CFR Cluj, 22 years old). Also in the defense will appear Radu Drăgușin, which is restored after a serious injury, but also Adrian Rus (Pisa, 29 years old) or Virgil Ghiță (Krakow, 27 years old). In the gate, already Horațiu Moldovan took the place of Florin Niță, after several hesitant matches of the hero of Romania from Euro 2024.
The coach is also looking for a double on the post of Nicușor Stanciu, who can change the national captain when the situation asks. After tomorrow’s match with Cyprus, the coach’s attention will go to the European Youth Championship, where Romania will play against the forces Italy (Wednesday) and Spain (Saturday), but also against Slovak hosts (June 17). Depending on the evolution of Daniel Pancu, at the great autumn battles in the preliminaries for the 2026 World Cup, we will a new nation, in which the experience with the enthusiasm of the newcomers will be interwoven. That is if the ultra -conservative Mircea Lucescu will not give back.
How can Romania finish in the first place in the group
Starting from the premise that all three favorites defeat San Marino and Cyprus, Romania can end the group in the first position if it beats Austria and Bosnia, and the matches between them end. Then, our national team would accumulate 18 points, and its followers, 17. If in the double in Austria – Bosnia a victory is recorded on each side, then the two teams and Romania will have 18 points, and the departure will be made at the goal. The tricolors can win the group and if Cyprus confuses the two candidates for Romania, provided we beat the national island round.
Group H from the World Cup preliminaries 2026
March 21: Cyprus – San Marino 2-0, Romania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-1
March 24: Bosnia and Herzegovina – Cyprus 2-1, San Marino – Romania 1-5
June 7: Bosnia and Herzegovina – San Marino 1-0, Austria – Romania 2-1
June 10: Romania – Cyprus (21.45), San Marino – Austria (21.45)
September 6:
Austria – Cyprus (21.45), San Marino – Bosnia and Herzegovina (21.45)
September 9:
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Austria (21.45), Cyprus – Romania (21.45)
October 9:
Austria – San Marino (21.45), Cyprus – Bosnia and Herzegovina (21.45)
October 12: San Marino – Cyprus (16.00), Romania – Austria (21.45)
November 15:
Cyprus – Austria (19.00), Bosnia and Herzegovina – Romania (21.45)
November 18:
Austria – Bosnia and Herzegovina (21.45), Romania – San Marino (21.45)
At the final tournament hosted next year by the US, Canada and Mexico directly qualify the winning bands of the qualification groups. The teams ranked 2nd and the 4 coming from the League of Nations play dam matches.
Ranking group H.
1. Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 3 0 0 4-1 9p
2. Romania 3 1 0 2 6-4 3p
3. Cyprus 2 1 0 1 3-2 3p
4. Austria 1 1 0 0 2-1 3p
5. San Marino 3 0 0 3 1-8 0p
