Article by Maria Olteanu – published on Friday, October 10, 2025 7:52 pm / Updated on Friday, October 10, 2025:18
Gabi Balint (62 years old) was asked on Friday night about DThe clutches made by coach Mircea Lucescu (80 years) at the end of the match with the Republic of Moldova, friendly won by “tricolors” with a score of 2-1, in Bucharest, Thursday evening. He understood that the game with Austria, on Sunday, could be the last, and Balint believes it would be a big mistake to leave, even if he was defeated by the group leader.
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Romania – Austria, in the preliminaries of the World Championship of 2026, is played on Sunday, October 12, from 9:45 pm, on the National Arena. The match will be LiveText on GSP.ro and on TV on Antena 1
“I wanted to resign after Cyprus. Let's see if the match with Austria will be my last match. Our problem is the basis of the game. There is a great prestigious match, with Austria. Let's see if this will be my last match ”Lucescu told the conference, understanding that he is seriously thinking about leaving the team after the Sunday match.
Gabi Balint claims that Lucescu must remain at national
“If we lose with Austria, I understand that it will give up. I think it should continue, we have a dam, to go to the end, we have chances of qualification, why not believe in them.
Mircea Lucescu has to go to the end, he knows what is on the team, he knows his players, he leaves some players that he debuted.
He is upset with the press, he disturbs some questions, but we have a good coach, with a lot of experience, he did a lot and outside, why to ruin what we did good in this campaign.
I lived a negative experience with Hagi, when he just came to the dam, I would not do it a second time, it is very difficult to come to play such a hard, and on the move, the chances are small, to recognize.
I do not know what coach will be, but it is absurd for the federation to ask for his qualification. I think it would be good to beat Austria, after things will work well, then the match in Bosnia comes, “said Gabi Balint, on the show” Digi Sport Special “, from Digi Sport.
I did not discuss with Lucescu. On our part, we did not discuss dismissal. Nea Mircea escaped her, said the replacement, because I don't know how. Who agrees with this? How to give up on it? Lucescu is a football monument that can turn the fate of a team anytime. This discussion about resignation has no meaning. We do not agree with a resignation
– Mihai Stoichiță, at GSP Live
How to finish Romania in 2nd place, which provides the dam
After Thursday evening, Romania has real chances at 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:
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Romania to win with Austria, Bosnia and San Marino (would reach 16 points) AND
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Bosnia to lose with Romania and not win with Austria (it would have a maximum of 14 points)
Second scenario:
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Romania to make equal to Austria, to beat Bosnia and San Marino (they would reach 14 points) AND
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Bosnia to lose with Austria and Romania (it would remain with 13 points)
The first criterion of separation is the goal, in the case of equality of points.
Romania is already safe from the dam on the route of the League of Nations. The difference is that if he finishes 2nd in the group, he will have a theoretical, easier route.
The ranking in the Romanian group
