Article by Costi Prună – Published on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, 17:36 / Updated on Tuesday, 20 January 2026 17:36
Romania plays today in the last match of the European Championship with North Macedonia. The match starts at 19:00 and will be live on the Voyo online platform for a fee.
After the expected defeats with Portugal (34-40) and Denmark (24-39)Romania is trying today not to lose in the game with North Macedonia and thus to rank higher than the 23rd-24th places.
Romania – North Macedonia, the last match at EURO 2026, live from 19:00
Even if it is not the favorite, Romania must push your limits, cancel the tourist “visa” at EURO 2026 and to prove that he can “escape” from the last valuable urn of European handball.
The match against North Macedonia is the last in the national team for the “veterans”, Mihai Popescu (40 years old) and Cristi Ghiță (35 years old).
George Buricea, Romania's coach: “It will be a life and death match!”
The selector George Buricea believed before the European tournament that Macedonia is an approachable formation, at the level of Romania, but with a superior experience due to more qualifications in major competitions.
George Buricea / PHOTO: Imago
“It's going to be a life and death match, and they certainly think so too!”said, for GSP, selector George Buricea.
A possible first “7” for Romania: Iancu, Andrei, Buzle, Stanciuc, Ghita, Nistor, Dedu.
Kiril Lazarov: “A half-goal victory is good!”
North Macedonia after losing by only 8 goals to the multiple world champion, Denmark, score 26-34, in the second match managed a surprising result of a tie, 29-29, with Portugal. Prepared by former great player Kiril Lazarov, Macedonia is the bookies' favorite at odds of 1.05-1.13, while Romania is priced at 9.00-15.00.
With one point in the standings, Macedonia has slim chances of qualifying for the main group, but they exist. If Macedonia beat Romania and Denmark beat Portugal, Kiril Lazarov's team will finish the group with 3 points, as will the Lusitanian team.
For the qualification, the Macedonians need a decisive victory of the Danes against the Portuguese, so that the 18 goals that Portugal has in addition to the goal difference against Macedonia, will be cancelled.
“We have to recover, rest and prepare for the match with Romania. The first option and the most important is the victory against Romania, even if it would be by half a goal. Then we wait for Denmark's victory with Portugal”, said the Macedonian national coach Kiril Lazarov.
A likely first “7” for the North Macedonians: Tomovski, Atanasjievikj, Djonov, Kuzmanovski, Velkovski, Kosteski, Stoikovikj.
Ranking from the Romania group
Photo: Flashscore.ro
