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Romania national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Sep 9, 2023 at 7.45pm UK
Arena Nationala
Israel national football team

Romania
1 - 1
Israel

Alibec (27')
Marin (56'), Dragusin (61'), Puscas (85')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Gluh (53')
Kanichowsky (89')

Preview: Romania vs. Israel - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Euro Champ Qualifying clash between Romania and Israel, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Romania will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in Group I of Euro 2024 qualifying when they welcome Israel to the National Arena in Bucharest on Saturday night.

The visitors, meanwhile, are seeking to claim their third successive victory in qualifying and climb into the top two of the group.


Match preview

Romania coach Edward Iordanescu before the match on June 19, 2023© Reuters

After failing to qualify for Euro 2020, Romania have put themselves in a strong position to reach the 2024 edition in Germany as they have picked up eight points in their opening four matches.

Victories over Andorra and Belarus in March were followed by draws against Kosovo and Switzerland in June, with a dramatic late brace from Valentin Mihaila – including a 92nd-minute equaliser – rescuing a point in a 2-2 draw away against the latter.

Manager Edward Iordanescu has encouraged his players to approach their upcoming fixtures with "maximum determination and focus" as they endeavour to maintain their position in the top two of Group I.

Romania, who are ranked 48th in the world by FIFA, have put together a five-game unbeaten run and have only lost two of their last 10 internationals across all competitions, although both of those were suffered on home soil – losing 3-0 to Montenegro in June last year and 2-1 against Slovenia five months later.

Not since 2018 have the Tricolour amassed a six-game unbeaten run, while they have come away from their previous two meetings with Israel undefeated, with a 2-1 away win in March 2018 followed by a 2-2 draw in March 2022.

Israel's Oscar Gloukh celebrates scoring their first goal with Ilay Feingold on July 1, 2022© Reuters

After picking up just one point from their opening two Euro 2024 qualifiers, Israel have since climbed up the Group I standing courtesy of back-to-back 2-1 wins against Belarus and Andorra in June.

Despite dominating proceedings against Andorra with 80% possession, Israel only had nine shots on goal in the entire match, but Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon ensured that all three points were secured when he made the net ripple just after the hour mark.

The Blue and Whites, who are ranked 76th in the world by FIFA, have never qualified for the European Championships before, but they remain in contention to secure a top-two finish in Group I as they currently sit in third place with seven points from four games, just one point behind Saturday's opponents Romania in second and three behind leaders Switzerland.

With favourable-looking fixtures against Belarus, Kosovo and Andorra still to come, victory over Romania would provide Alon Hazan's side with plenty of confidence of qualifying for their first major tournament since the 1970 World Cup.

However, their away form leaves a little to be desired as they head into Saturday's game having won only two of their last nine internationals in all competitions.

Romania Euro Champ Qualifying form:


Romania form (all competitions):


Israel Euro Champ Qualifying form:


Israel form (all competitions):



Team News

Romania's Dennis Man celebrates scoring their first goal on March 25, 2023© Reuters

Romania will have to cope without goalkeeper Ionut Radu, defender Vlad Chiriches and midfielder Dennis Man as they all continue to recover from injury.

Horatiu Moldovan is expected to continue in goal in the absence of Radu, but Iordanescu could revert to a back four against Israel, with Radu Dragusin and Andrei Burca linking arms at centre-back in between full-backs Cristian Manea and Mario Camora.

Vladimir Screciu made his international debut last time out and he could keep his place in centre-midfield, starting alongside Razvan Marin and captain Nicolae Stanciu – who plies his trade at club level with Chinese side Wuhan Three Towns – while George Puscas could be recalled to start with Ianis Hagi and Florinel Coman in the front three.

As for Israel, Doron Leidner has not been called up as he continues to recover from a cruciate ligament injury, so Roy Revivo – who earned his first international cap in the last match – will battle with Ofir Davidzada for a start at left-back.

Omri Glazer should fend off competition from Bayern Munich's new recruit Daniel Peretz to retain the number one jersey, while midfield duo Dor Peretz and Mohammed Abu Fani will be hoping to force their way back into the first XI at the expense of Neta Lavi and Gavriel Kanichowsky.

Solomon and Celtic's Liel Abada are expected to provide width on the flanks and support in attack for either Shon Weissman or Tai Baribo as the central striker.


Romania possible starting lineup:
Moldovan; Manea, Dragusin, Burca, Camora; Screciu, R. Marin, Stanciu; Hagi, Puscas, Coman

Israel possible starting lineup:
Glazer; Dasa, Goldberg, Shlomo, Revivo; Safouri, Peretz, Abu Fani; Solomon, Weissman, Abada


SM words green background

We say: Romania 2-1 Israel

An entertaining encounter could be in store on Saturday considering that Romania have scored in eight of their last 10 internationals and Israel have netted in 11 of their last 12 matches.

There is little to separate these two nations, but we believe that Romania will just edge this contest on home soil to consolidate their place in the top two of Group I.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Romania vs Israel

Romania
58.2%
Draw
20.9%
Israel
20.9%
67
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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