Romania far exceeded expectations at Euro 2024, winning the group and finishing honorably in the eighth. We will live for a few more days with the satisfaction of the national team’s performance at the European Championship, then thoughts will turn to the future, where two fiery competitions await us: the League of Nations and the World Cup qualifiers in 2026.
Hagi, R. Marin, Stanciu and Drăguș, key players in the World Cup qualifiers. Sportpictures photo
If in the League of Nations the mission seems easier – we will meet Kosovo, Lithuania and Cyprus, the objective being promotion to the second division -, the qualifications for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico will be suffocating, considering that they go directly to the final tournament only group winners.
The start is already in March next year, and the prospects are good, considering that the national team now has a core of players. But there will certainly be changes in the standard formula, especially since Romania does not even have a coach at the moment, after the end of Edi Iordănescu’s mandate. That it will be the same coach, that it will be another, changes will be registered in the Romanian national team, some starting even with the autumn games in the League of Nations.
Florin Niță will leave the place of the “foals”
In goal, Florin Niță stood out at the Euros, being considered the team’s best man, even if he made a mistake with a goal against the Netherlands. But let’s not forget that Horațiu Moldovan defended in the preliminaries, who got us out of many difficult situations, and Ștefan Târnovanu has great potential.
As Niță will be almost 38 years old when the preliminaries start, it is expected that one of the “young wolves” will take his starting place. Romania still has a valuable goalkeeper, Ionuț Radu, and he can become a reliable option if he finds a team to play for. Marian Aioani and Răzvan Sava are also waiting for their turn in the first representative team.
Radu Drăgușin, the pillar of the defense
On the bottom line, the reconstruction will begin for Radu Drăgușin, already seen as the national team leader in the future. His colleague from the bottom line, Andrei Burcă, starter in all Euro matches, could take a step back, given that he currently does not have a team, that he plays in Arab football and that he is approaching 32 years old.
A replacement option would be Bogdan Racovițan, who would be easily integrated into the team for the World Cup campaign. The French-born stopper turned 24 and is a regular at Polish champions Rakow. He was tried by Edi Iordănescu at the Euro, twice. Against Holland he was hesitant at first, but then he gained confidence and made good interventions.
Nicușor Bancu, “ambushed” by young people
On the right flank, Andrei Rațiu won his position through appreciated developments and has a dubbing on the post in the person of Vasile Mogoș. On the left side we have the biggest problems, even if Nicușor Bancu, criticized by many, played well. He has no rival in the position, and at the World Cup in 2026 he will be 34 years old, so in the near future Raul Opruț (26 years old, Dinamo), Andrei Borza (18 years old, Rapid) are expected to make their way to the national team or Andres Dumitrescu (23 years old, who belongs to Slavia Prague).
In the middle, Nicușor Stanciu is nailed, even if he died after the match with Ukraine and has been playing for many years in China or in the Gulf. Răzvan Marin also has the job secured, while Dennis Man, Ianis Hagi, Florinel Coman, Valentin Mihăilă and Deian Sorescu are fighting to play on the flanks.
At the closing, the selector’s choice was Marius Marin, a consistently good player. But he will have to fight for the starting position with Vladimir Screciu, who was injured and missed the call-up to the final tournament. Also after the period of unavailability, Olimpiu Moruțan will also return, who seriously put his shoulder to qualifying for Euro 2024.
Smaller bet on Alibec and Pușcaș
In the attack, Denis Drăguș won his starting place, especially since he will play next season for a big team, Trabzonspor. Most likely, Denis Alibec and George Pușcaș will leave the national team circuit, the first because of age, the second because he has not found his form for several years now.
Daniel Bîrligea, who did not get minutes in Germany, will certainly play more often for the national team, and Louis Munteanu, “jumped” out of the scheme by Edi Iordănescu at the World Championship, has his whole career ahead of him, at only 22 years old.
