Article by Tudor Belivaca – published on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 10:30 pm / Updated Tuesday, September 9, 2025 22:36
Nicușor Bancu received a yellow card in the 21st minute of the match with Cyprus from the 2026 World Championship preliminaries and will be suspended at the next match of Romania, the one with Austria on his own ground.
Nicușor Bancu received the yellow card at a phase that did not announce too much danger.
Mircea Lucescu had taken to the beginning of this action of the national team Andrei Borza to be Bancu's reserve. The defender of the Rapid was injured in the lot due to a physiotherapist who stepped on his foot, and Alexandru Chipciu was called for his supple.
Nicușor Bancu, suspended at the match with Austria! Mircea Lucescu's variants
The match with Austria in the preliminaries for the 2026 World Championship was scheduled on October 12, from 9.45 pm. Until then, the defender of the Rapid should return, as he has an injury to his little toe.
Mircea Lucescu would need a reserve of left defender, and the Romanian coach would have several options: Alexandru Chipciu, also summoned to this action, Raul Opruț, Dinamo's player who checked presence at the national team, or Florin Stefan, the defender of the University of Craiova.
The coach Mircea Lucescu approached this topic before the friendly with Canada, lost by “tricolors” with 3-0. “Il Luce” called the left defender variants to explain the decision to convene Alexandru Chipciu, in the context of Borza's injury.
I didn't find the left defender. It was Opruț, but he is still under medical control. I had to take Stefan, from Craiova, I was practically taking two side defenders from the same team, which is not correct and normal.
–Mircea Lucescuat the press conference prior to the match with Canada
