Kosovo-Romania is a match on the third day of Group I of Euro 2024 qualifying and is played on Friday at 20:45: tv, predictions.
After yet another failure in the World Cup qualifiers, Romania have gone back to Edward Iordanescu, the former coach of Cluj and FCSB and son of Anghel, who has led the Tricolorii three times in the last three decades.
His adventure at the helm of the national team did not get off to a great start: despite picking up two wins and a draw, he was unable to avoid relegation to the Nations League C, finishing last in the group. Since last September, however, Romania has not lost, except in a friendly match against Slovenia. And in the first two days of the Euro 2024 qualifiers, two successes in a row have arrived, allowing Stanciu and his teammates to remain on full points together with Switzerland in a not impossible group, in which they can have their say at least as far as the second place is concerned. For confirmation of a ‘rebirth’ of a national team that has not experienced the glories of the Hagi era, however, we have to wait for more convincing tests: Romania have so far faced two not exactly irresistible selections such as Andorra and Belarus, beaten 2-0 and 2-1.
Romania can mortgage qualification
It would be vital to climb to nine points by also beating Kosovo, one of the two teams which, along with Israel, could challenge the Romanians.
Giresse
The young Balkan national team also dreams of taking part in its first international event, but the match against Romania already looks like an in or out game, as in the first two days the men led by former French national Alain Giresse did not go beyond two 1-1 draws against Israel and Andorra. The transalpine coach has to do without an important player like Berisha, but he can count on Rrahmani and Vojvoda, two players we know very well in Serie A, but above all on former Lazio player Muriqi, who has returned to score in spades in Spain, at Mallorca. In Romania, on the other hand, there are several players who play in our Serie B: up front Morutan (Pisa) and Man (Parma) will find space, in defence there is Dragusin (Genoa).
The prediction
Romania have looked on the rise in the last two matches but Kosovo have several valuable players, who play in major leagues such as Serie A. And they might be able to avoid defeat as they have done in their last five matches, in which they have scored one win and four draws. Both are likely to score on at least one occasion.
Kosovo v Romania likely line-up
- KOSOVO (4-3-3): Muric; Aliti, Rrahmani, Kryeziu, Paqarada; Celina, Fazliji, Loshaj; Rashica, Muriqi, Topalli.
- ROMANIA (4-3-3): Tarnovanu; Manea, Dragusin, Burca, Oprut; Marin, Baluta, Stanciu; Morutan, Alibec, Man.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
