The moves prepared by Mircea Lucescu »The national are reconfigured for the match with Moldova

Criticized for the elections and the game practiced at the last action of the “tricolors”, “Il Luce” is not going to repeat the experience from the previous two parties, without positive consequences. In addition, after meeting with Răzvan Burleanu, he acknowledged his errors, especially in terms of used footballers.

• Romania – Moldova is played on Thursday, from 21:00, on the National Arena in Bucharest. The match will be broadcast by Digisport 1, Prima TV and, in LiveText format, on gsp.ro.

Space for Ianis Hagi, chance for Vlad Dragomir

Mircea Lucescu has already moved to important moves in the structure of the team, perfectly observable in the convened lot. Horațiu Moldovan was left out, being penalized for the mistake of the verification match with the North Americans, while several new and perspective names will compose the alternative that will compete with the basic ones.

The absence of Nicolae Stanciu, injured, will generate space, behind the peak this time, for the reintegration of Ianis Hagi, holder to his new team, Alanyaspor, for which he marked last stage, in the Turkish championship. On the same position, Lucescu is going to give minutes to minutes Vlad Dragomir (26 years old)even if not yet from the beginning.

Vlad Dragomir evolved the first and only time in the Romanian shirt in a match with San Marino, away, final score 1-5, in March 2025. Only 23 minutes was used. Photo: Imago

Pafos's midfielder evolves in the Champions League in the current season, and in the preliminaries he was also used as the second striker, a post that gave a yield over expectations, succeeding in group qualification after two victories, in double leg, in front of Dinamo Kiev.

It remains to be seen and what will be the approach to Cătălin Cîrjan (22 years old), convened for the first time.

Ștefan Baiaram is waiting for his reward

One of the vehement criticisms that were brought to Mircea Lucescu after the match with Canada was the one related to the non-use of Stefan Baiaram (22 years old), one of the most in form Romanian players, at that time, “reborn” under the command of Mirel Rădoi at Craiova University.

The extreme enjoys more freedom of movement after Alex Mitriță's departure, withdrawn from the nationwide in the meantime. Even though his benefits have decreased in intensity, Baiaram could start on the post of his former colleague, on the left flank, where Alex Dobre or Valentin Mihăilă are favorite.

On the same band, but below, Nicușor Bancu will be suspended with Austria, and his replacement will be a challenge for the coach. Given that Deian Sorescu's option is not viable, Gaziantep's player being injured, “Il Luce” will test the variants Raul Opruț, Kevin Ciubotaru and Alexandru Chipciu, three extremely different solutions.

Who takes Moldovan's place?

Regarding the goalkeepers, Mircea Lucescu can count on Ionuț Radu, Răzvan Sava and Stefan Târnovanu. They all constantly evolve into their club teams and are at a good time, so the final decision of the first representative remains open.

Of the three, Sava was the least used, while Radu is waiting for his turn to prove that bad pass is only past. It is also a favorite to enter the holder.

In the match with Austria, however, the FCSB goalkeeper could evolve. Even if the “red-blue” goes through a crisis that they hope to conclude after the victory with the University of Craiova, Târnovanu cannot be imputed decisive mistakes in the parties played in this season, both in the internal competition and in the Europa League.

It surprised me that he discussed too much on this thing, as if I killed someone. It was a very big mistake, I assume it. Not only Horațiu Moldovan is wrong, they were wrong more than me. I think it's my first joke on the national team. I am not a robot, I am a man, I am more wrong. I wanted to play with the central midfielder, I had no option. It was best to play long ball from the first. I changed my mind and this happens when a goalkeeper changes his mind.
– Horațiu Moldovan, after Cyprus – Romania 2-2

How could Romania look like Moldova: Radu – Rațiu, Ghiță, M. Popescu, R. Opruț – R. Marin, M. Marin – Man, I. Hagi, Mihăilă – Bîrligea;

• Moldova is in position 151 in the FIFA standings. So far, Romania and Moldova have met five times, each time in friendly. “Tricolorii” were imposed four times: Romania 2-0 Moldova (2005), Romania 2-0 Moldova (2007), Moldova 3-3 Romania (2011), Romania 2-1 Moldova (2015), Moldova 0-5 Romania (2022);

Romania's group for matches with Moldova and Austria

Goalkeepers
Ionuț Radu (Celta de Vigo, Spain, 4/0), Ștefan Târnovanu (FCSB, 3/0), Răzvan Sava (Udinese, Italy, 0/0);

defense
Andrei Rațiu (Rayo Vallecano, Spain, 33/1), Cristian Manea (Rapid, 25/2), Andrei Burcă (Yunnan Yukun, China, 43/1), Virgil Ghiță (Hannover 96, Germany, 5/0), Bogdan Racovițan (Rakow, Poland, 4/0), Mihai Popescu (FCSB, 5/1), 5/1) Lisav Eissat (Maccabi Haifa, Israel, 0/0), Alexandru Chipciu (Cluj University, 47/6), Raul Opruț (Dinamo, 4/0), Kevin Ciubotaru (Hermannstadt, 0/0);

midfielders
Marius Marin (Pisa, Italy, 33/0), Vladimir Screciu (Craiova University, 4/0), Răzvan Marin (AEK Athens, Greece, 70/12), Vlad Dragomir (PAFOS, CIPRU, 1/0), Dennis Man (PSV, Tarii de Jos, 39/10), Olimpiu Moruțan (ARIS THESSALONIKI, GREECE, GREATI 16/1), Ianis Hagi (Alanyaspor, Turkey, 47/6), Florin Tanase (FCSB, 23/5), Cătălin Cîrjan (Dinamo, 0/0), Ștefan Baiaram (Craiova University, 0/0), Valentin Mihăilă (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey, 31/5), Alexandru Dobre (Rapid, 4/0);

Attackers
Louis Munteanu (CFR Cluj, 1/0), Daniel Bîrliga (FCSB, 4/1), David Miculescu (FCSB, 4/0);