Romania are in a must-win situation on Monday night against Bosnia and Herzegovina in UEFA Nations League B Group 3. The Romanians are at the bottom of the four-team table with four points from five matches.
Edward Iordănescu’s team is coming off a 1-1 draw with Finland away. The draw was Romania’s second straight match without a win in the UEFA Nations League.
🏆 U posljednjem kolu UEFA Lige nacija #BIH večeras igra utakmicu protiv Rumunije. 🥇 I pored činjenice da su kolo prije kraja obezbijedili prvo mjesto i plasman u Ligu A, Zmajevi žele da ovaj ciklus završe sa još jednom pobjedom. 📺 Direktan prenos utakmice je na BHT1. pic.twitter.com/NeM7l7Ipa0— NFS BIH (@NFSBiH) September 26, 2022
🏆 U posljednjem kolu UEFA Lige nacija #BIH večeras igra utakmicu protiv Rumunije. 🥇 I pored činjenice da su kolo prije kraja obezbijedili prvo mjesto i plasman u Ligu A, Zmajevi žele da ovaj ciklus završe sa još jednom pobjedom. 📺 Direktan prenos utakmice je na BHT1. pic.twitter.com/NeM7l7Ipa0
Romania are one point off of third-place Finland in the race for Nations League survival. Finland play second-place Montenegro on Monday night. Anything less than a win for Finland would open the door for Romania to overtake them in the standings.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have nothing to play for on Monday. The team has already sealed progression to League A.
Bosnia and Herzegovina took 11 points from the opening five matches of the competition. They are four points ahead of Montenegro going into the final day of the tournament.
Romania have had an awful 2022. The Romanians have played seven times posting a record of 1W-2D-4L in all competitions. Romania’s only victory of the year was against Finland in June.
Bosnia and Herzegovina are on a brilliant run of form. They are unbeaten in six straight matches, with four fixtures ending in wins.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have nothing to play for on Monday night, which could lead manager Ivaylo Petev to rotate the side.
Petev played a strong side against Montenegro on Friday, with Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko staring as the team’s lone striker. Vice-captain Miralem Pjanic played as a holding midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
The duo of Dzeko and Pjanic have been vital to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s chances of promotion.
Dzeko has two goals in UEFA Nations League play. Forward Smail Prevljak has also chipped in two goals. Prevljak did not play against Montenegro and is in line to start versus Romania.
Iordănescu played a 4-3-3 formation against Finland on Friday. The manager could stick with the same formation and a similar starting XI.
Romania are desperate to win the match but Iordănescu’s squad isn’t the most talented in the national team’s history. Denis Alibec could make way for George Puscas as the team’s central striker. Florin Tanase’s spot in midfield should be safe after he scored versus Finland at the weekend.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have nothing to play for, while Romania have everything to gain. The match should finish 1-1 with Romania unable to get the win they need. The Romanians have simply shown nothing at the tournament.