Romania have decisive matches against Israel and Switzerland ahead of them, and the tricolors need one point in Saturday’s clash to make it to the final tournament of the 2024 European Championship.

Romania’s national football teamPhoto: Martin Silva Cosentino/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia

Ionuc Lupescu and advice to the tricolor before the matches with Israel and Switzerland

Switzerland overtook Romania in the standings of Group I after a draw with Israel, both teams have 16 points with two games to play.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Israel, Ionuc Lupescu is confident of the men’s qualification, but tells them they must play for the result, as in previous games.

“I think the group was good for us, even if we didn’t do better than Switzerland, Kosovo and Israel. Everything was going in a favorable direction for us. It is practically impossible (not to miss the qualification). We need one more point. We must concentrate as much as possible.

With Israel, we play on a neutral ground, we have another advantage. We are playing Switzerland at home, with a full stadium. Everything is possible in football. Switzerland lost points in the final minutes. They have a big problem at the end of the match. Not only did we score at the end of the match, but so did the other teams.

They should do what they did in other matches. They played for the result. We only need one point. It’s pressure. This shouldn’t be a big problem. The best motivation is the opportunity to enter the EURO. It’s about each individual player.

We had big problems with Israel in the home game. This is a very cunning team, it knows the science of the game. I don’t know how much it will affect them. They also played two matches in the last week. It can be to our advantage” – said Ionuc Lupescufor DigiSport.

The former midfielder made 76 appearances and scored six goals for Romania, with whom he took part in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and the 1996 and 2000 European Championships.

Know:

  • The match between Israel and Romania will take place on Saturday (November 18) at 21:45 at Pancho Stadium (Felchut / Hungary). The match will be broadcast on Prima TV.
  • Romania vs Switzerland will be played on Tuesday (November 21) at 21:45 at the National Arena in Bucharest. Live broadcast of the match on Antenna 1.
  • Both games will be broadcast in LiveBLOG format on HotNews.ro.

EURO 2024 preliminary matches, group I standings

1. Switzerland (goal difference 21-9) 16 points

2. Romania (13-4) 16

3. Israel (8-9) 12

4. Kosovo (9-8) 10

5. Belarus (7-14) 6

6. Andorra (3-17) 2.

* The top two teams will advance to the final tournament next summer (June 14-July 14), which will be hosted by Germany.

*In case of a tie, the tiebreaker is determined by the results of direct matches.

The remaining matches of group I

Belarus – Andorra / November 18, 19:00

Switzerland – Kosovo / November 18, 21:45

Israel – Romania / November 18, 21:45

Romania – Switzerland / November 21, 21:45

Andorra – Israel / November 21, 21:45

Kosovo – Belarus / November 21, 21:45.

Romania in the preliminary tournament of EURO 2024, which broadcasts every match of the tricolor

*All previous matches of Romania will be published in LiveBlog on HotNews.ro.

25 March 2023: Andorra – Romania 0-2

March 28, 2023: Romania – Belarus 2-1

June 6, 2023: Kosovo – Romania 0-0

June 19, 2023: Switzerland – Romania 2-2

September 9, 2023: Romania – Israel 1-1

September 12, 2023: Romania – Kosovo 2:0

October 12, 2023: Belarus – Romania 0-0

October 15, 2023 – 21:45 Romania – Andorra 4-0

November 18, 2023 – 21:45 Israel – Romania / Prima TV

November 21, 2023 – 21:45 Romania – Switzerland / Antenna 1.