Live Romania – Austria, Capital match on the National Arena, in the preliminaries CM 2026

On the 3rd place in the preliminary group, the Romanian national is obliged not to lose with Austria in order to keep its chances in the second place intact. However, we meet the most powerful opponent in the group, quoted 202 million on Transfermarkt and energized after the demonstration of force with San Marino (10-0).

Why is the match with Austria a vital for “tricolors”? Because, if the national team does not win against the Austrians, he will need Bosnia, occupying the second place, to lose with Romania, but also with Austria. And the first place will be, mathematically, missed by the band “Il Luce”.

On paper, Romania starts the match in the position of Outsider. Both value and from the prism of the estimates made by Bookmakers, who consider the Austrians favorite for a triumph in Bucharest.

Romania – Austria, live from 21:45

Romania – Austria, probable teams:

Romania: Târnovanu – Rațiu, Ghiță, Burcă, Chipciu – Marius Marin, Fl. Tanase – Man, Hagi, Mihăilă – Bîrligaa
Selector: Mircea Lucescu

Austria: Pentz – Posch, Danso, Alaba, Prass – Laimer, Seiwald – Schmid, Gregoritsch, Sabitzer – Arnautovic
Selector: RALF RANGNICK

Stadium: National Arena, Bucharest
Referee: Davide Massa (Italy) / Assistants: Filippo Meli and Stefano Alassio (both in Italy) / Book: Simone Sozza / The lime room: Michael Fabbri and Rosario Abisso

UPDATE 10:40 »Romania's group for the match with Austria

Mircea Lucescu announced the lot, and of the 29 players convened, the coach kept 23. Great surprise about Răzvan Marin (29 years).

Although the coach announced the conference that the midfielder is injured and has not trained this week, is part of the lot.

Cristi Manea, Bogdan Racovițan, Raul Opruț, Cătălin Cîrjan, Alexandru Dobre and David Miculescu were left outside the Lucescu group.

• porter: Ionuț Radu (Celta Vigo), Ștefan Târnovanu (FCSB), Răzvan Sava (Udinese)

• defense: Andrei Rațiu (Rayo Vallecano), Andrei Burcă (Yunnan Yukun), Virgil Ghiță (Hannover), Mihai Popescu (FCSB), Lisav Eissat (Maccabi Haifa), Alexandru Chipciu (Cluj University), Kevin Ciubotaru (Hermannstadt)

• midfielders: Marius Marin (Pisa), Vladimir Screciu (Craiova University), Răzvan Marin (AEK Athens), Vlad Dragomir (PAFOS), Adrian Şut (FCSB), Dennis Man (PSV), Olimpiu Moruțan (ARIS SALONIC), Ianis Hagi (Alanyaspor), Florin Tănase (FCSB), Ștefan Baiaram Craiova), Valentin Mihăilă (Rizespor)

• Attackers: Louis Munteanu (CFR Cluj), Daniel Bîrliga (FCSB)

Mircea Lucescu admits, before “clash” with Austria: “It's a difference from us”

In the preface to the match, coach Mircea Lucescu performed a thorough analysis of Austria, explaining how Ralf Rantnick's national team can be beaten:

“Austria's attitude (…) is worth noting It is a very powerful team, built in time, 6-7 years rarely changes, one is hard to enter, the average is 27-28 years. It's a difference from us. We had to permanently overcome a team from the match to the match, to change because of the accidents. Such a team must be approached carefully.

We know they can't change the way we play, and we have to anticipate them. If I bring 8 players to attack, they will leave 2 players in defense. We need to know how to play.

They call on long ball. They carry the extremes inside, and the defenders go up the attackers line. There I take passes. They are good at recovery, it is their highest quality. Recover well, don't let the opponent go out with the ball. Develop the counterattacks well because they are physically well.

I played very well in Vienna (No Austria defeated us with 2-1). I neglected an auto, I did not go out on Baumgartner, who comes out between the defenders, takes over and becomes dangerous. We had new opportunities, I had a penalty, when he searched Drăguș ”.

I am upset by the lack of physical training of those in our championship. The level is very low. I'm not just talking about the outside, but also those in the internal championship.

I have a great responsibility, I do not want my players to get ashamed of the field.

– Mircea Lucescu, selector Romania

The ranking in the Romanian group + calculations

Following Thursday's results, Romania has real chances in the 2nd place, which leads to the dam. The chances in the first place are purely theoretical, Austria having 8 points in addition to Romania and a better goal. What has to happen for Romania to get the 2nd place. There are two main scenarios:

The first scenario:

• Romania to win with Austria, Bosnia and San Marino (would reach 16 points)
  AND
• Bosnia to lose with Romania and not win with Austria (it would have a maximum of 14 points)

Second scenario:

• Romania to make equal to Austria, to beat Bosnia and San Marino (they would reach 14 points)AND
• Bosnia to lose with Austria and Romania (it would remain with 13 points)

In the case of equality of points, the first criterion of separation is the goal.

🌏 important: Second place in the qualification group can ensure the status of series head to draw (according to the FIFA ranking), Which would mean hosting the dam semifinal, respectively the coupling with an easier theory opponent.

👉 regardless of the place in the group, Romania will be at a dam for CM 2026 due to the winning of the Group in the League of Nations.

And there are injured players, who would have evolved. The data of the problem does not change. We know that for Romania is the last chance. Only with a victory can hope in 2nd place. For us, a success would mean securing the place 1. both teams know the decisive character of this game.

We know why we came here. I said. We want to qualify for the first time after 28 years at a final world championship tournament. It will be a difficult match in front of an almost full stadium. We saw in the first 30 minutes of the Vienna match how good the national of Romania is, but, with all respect for Mircea Lucescu and for everyone, we came here to do our job. The job is to win and qualify.

It was also seen in Vienna that the Romanian team is good. Tanase and Man are two fast, techniques, who dribble well on the flanks. In front, Drăguș will miss. We do not orient ourselves to play after a player, but to play according to the position of the ball and spaces. This does not mean that we do not know what the qualities of the Romanian team are.

– RALF RANGNICK, Austria selector

I think we are ready for this match. I think it's not important who marks. I would like to do it, I am an offensive player. I hope to win. There must be no relaxation. We have a rescue net, with the matches at the dam, but we have to grow as a game in order to pass the dam.

Austria is a top team, with players from the Bundesliga. I am ready to play in any position, where it will be needed. I will put my qualities in the service of Teamiflorin Tanase, midfielder Romania.

– Florin Tanase, midfielder Romania