Romania take on the visitors Bosnia & Herzegovina in World Cup 2026 qualification match. The match will be played on Friday, March 21st at Arena Nationala (Bucharest).
Romania went through a decline in recent years, lacking stars of the caliber of Mutu or Hagi. However, they managed an impressive qualifying campaign, securing a direct spot at the Euros. One of the most memorable moments was their calculated 1-1 draw against Slovakia in the final group-stage match—an outcome that ensured both teams progressed while leaving Ukraine, despite earning four points, eliminated. However, Romania was soon humbled by the Netherlands with a heavy 0-3 defeat in the Round of 16. That loss seemingly overshadowed their successful campaign, as Edward Iordănescu was replaced by Mircea Lucescu. The legendary coach, known for his spells with Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv, immediately delivered six straight wins in the fall. The question remains whether this was due to his tactical expertise or simply the weakness of their opponents—Cyprus, Kosovo, and Lithuania were far from elite competition. Looking at their current form, Romania remains unbeaten in their last ten matches.
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Bosnia has been winless for a long time. The Golden Lilies struggled in their previous qualification campaign. At the time, there was speculation that coach Savo Milošević was focusing on the Euro 2024 playoffs rather than the main qualifiers. If that was the case, the strategy failed miserably, as Bosnia fell at home to Ukraine in their first playoff match without much resistance. Afterward, the national team appointed Sergej Barbarez, a former forward and a true Bosnian football icon. However, even under his guidance, results in the Nations League were underwhelming. This was somewhat expected, as Bosnia was competing in the top-tier group. They managed draws against Hungary and, surprisingly, the Netherlands but lost all other fixtures. Despite these struggles, Barbarez has been given time to implement his vision, though patience among fans and federation officials is not limitless. Adding to their problems, Bosnia has now gone eight matches without a victory, showing clear issues in attack.
In their first-ever encounter in 2002, Romania secured an away victory. Since then, the home side has always come out on top in the last five meetings. This trend is unlikely to change, especially since Romania is the stronger side playing at home. With their solid form and tactical discipline, the hosts should secure a victory.
Prediction for the match: Romania to win.
