Article by Maria Olteanu – Published on Sunday, 16 November 2025, 00:44 / Updated on Sunday, 16 November 2025 00:52
Bosnia – Romania 3-1. Romania lost in the trip from Zenica, with Austria, score 1-3, and in this way the 1st place in group H is contested between Bosnia and Austria. Austrian journalists were not at all happy with what happened and reacted angrily at the end.
If Romania managed to take at least one point from the trip to Bosnia, then Austria would have mathematically qualified for the World Championship with one round to go. As the “tricolors” lost, then Bosnia came within two points of Austria, and everything will be decided in the direct match, on Tuesday evening, from 21:45.
With a success, Bosnia goes to the World Cup, although Austria was close to getting the ticket as early as today, and precisely for this reason Austrian journalists are angry with the Romanians, who did not lend them a helping hand.
The reaction of the media in Austria, after Romania lost to Bosnia
“Romania could help us and do our team a huge favour, but they were not decisive enough in front of goal before half-time and collapsed after Drăguș was sent off. Bosnia played an excellent second half and the victory is not undeserved”noted the journalists from derstandard.at.
“Bosnia turns the game around and secures a final against Austria. With a win in Vienna on Tuesday, the Bosnians could take Austria's direct qualification place to WC 2026. Bosnia secures a decisive World Cup qualifier against Austria in Vienna.
Late on Saturday night, the Bosnians celebrate a 3-1 victory against Romania at home, bringing them just two points behind Austria in Group H. With a win in Vienna, Bosnia could dethrone Austria from first place in the group and, implicitly, from the place that ensures direct qualification to the World Cup. The team ranked second must go to the play-off,” noted the journalists from laola1.at.
Romania goes to the playoffs and will play away
The Tricolors missed a huge chance to go into the books for second place and are certain to finish third in this group, where Austria and Bosnia will battle it out for top spot.
At the moment, the most likely opponents for Romania, coming from ballot box 1, are Italy, Turkey, Ukraine and Poland. The scenario is not one nailed down, the scenarios can change in the last round of preliminaries. The chances are very small for the appearance of surprises. Romania will surely play away!
On Thursday, from 14:00 Romanian time, liveTEXT on GSP.ro, Lucescu's “tricolors” will know exactly who they will play in the play-off in March, for a ticket to the North American World Cup.
Images from the match Bosnia – Romania 3-1
Ranking from the Romania group
