Bosnia – Romania, the decisive match for the 2nd place in the WC 2026 preliminaries is played today, from 21:45. The Zenica duel will be liveTEXT on GSP.ro, with real-time information from the stadium provided by Gazeta Sporturilor reporters, and live on PrimaTV.
Romania, with the play-off place already secured through the Nations League, hopes to get the 2nd place to have more advantages in the play-off for WC 2026, i.e. to play the semi-final at home.
Defeated by Bosnia in Bucharest (0-1), Romania is in 3rd place, with 10 points, 3 behind today's rival. The leader is Austria, with 15 points. So a victory would ensure the “tricolors” the 2nd place, because in the last round they face San Marino.
And for Bosnia the match is extremely important, Sergej Barbarez's team dreaming of the 1st place, for which they would play in the last round, against Austria. To be specified: in case of a tie, the first tie-breaking criterion is goal difference.
Bosnia – Romania, live from 21:45
Bosnia – Romania, probable teams
Bosnia: Zlomislic – Dedic, Muharemovic, Katic, Karic – Basic, Sunjic – Memic, , Gigovic, Alajbegovic – Dzeko
Reserves: Vasilj, Hadzikic, Kolasinac, Malic, Mujakic, Hadzikadunic, Radeljic, Tahirovic, Burnic, Bajraktarevic, Hadziahmetovic, Tabakovic, Bazdar
Coach: Sergey Barbarez
Romania: I.Radu – Rațiu, Ghiță, Racovițan, Bancu – M.Marin, V. Dragomir – Man, I.Hagi, Mihăilă – Bîrligea
Reserves: Târnovanu, Aioani, Sorescu, Rus, Eissat, Chipciu, Screciu, R. Marin, Fl. Tănase, Olaru, Miculescu, Baiaram, Petrila, Drăguș
Selector: Mircea Lucescu
Stadium: Bilino Polje (Zenica)
Referee: Michael Oliver // Assistants: Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring
VAR Referee: Michael Salisbury // Assistant VAR: Peter Bankes (all from England)
Ranking from the Romania group
What dilemmas did Mircea Lucescu have in choosing the starting formula
For this match, Mircea Lucescu had three dilemmas in the composition of the starting formula. Instead of Andrei Burcă, suspended, the selector had a choice between Bogdan Racovițan and Adrian Rus and preferred the former.
Nicușor Bancu returns to the position of left defender, suspended for the match with Austria. He took Alexandru Chipciu's face. And in the attack, Daniel Bîrligea won the duel with Drăguș.
What Mircea Lucescu said about Bosnia – Romania
For me it's not pressure, but a responsibility to make a competitive team that will go to the World Cup. Now we are playing against a team that did not deserve to win in Bucharest. If the referee gave us that penalty, which was perfectly valid, the match was different. We definitely dominated the match. I have no reason to fear this match.
It will be a difficult match with a team that has experienced players but also young players who have played with good teams in the Nations League. But this does not mean that we will have a difficult match, it will be an ordinary qualifying match. I have no problems with the team, we have good and experienced centre-backs. Everyone prepared very well. I'm sure they will behave as they should and forget those who are not.
– Mircea Lucescu
How Edin Dzeko sees the duel with Romania
Romania has a good team, it is also young. We beat you in the first match and even though you said you were better, in the end the result is all that matters. I want us to be better, but also to win. That's all that matters. Romania has good, valuable young players, but also an experienced coach. I expect a tough game, but we also have quality. We are ready!
We won in Romania, but we expect another tough match. I hope we can win again. I think that now Romania is better compared to the last match in Bosnia (no-1-0 in 2022). Then it was not 100% as a team, it had a new generation. But now he is, especially since he has a coach with great experience and players who have been developing together for a long time. But we are also better than then.
– Edin Dzeko
