The Romanian national team arrived in Skopje on Monday with 21 players for the upcoming 2022 WC qualifier against Macedonia on Wednesday.
photo by FRF: the Romanians before the Liechtenstein match
Coach Mirel Rădoi had few problems as he was left without 5 players from the original squad list for these September qualifiers. Keeper Marian Aioani will have to wait for his debut some better times as he got injured after the Liechtenstein match. Right winger Dorin Rotariu came out COVID-19 positive after the Iceland match, while attacking midfielder Florin Tănase and center-forwards Denis Alibec and Denis Drăguș got injured.
A day before the match Ianis Hagi complained of slight headaches after which he was tested [positive for COVID-19 and ruled out of the match. His teammates Răzvan Marin, Alexandru Cicâldău and Dragoș Nedelcu because of close contact were immediately put in isolation in Skopje although their rapid tests came out negative. They later underwent PCR tests which came out negative for all of them, meaning they will be allowed to feature at the match.
Romania managed to win both September games before coming to Skopje, both with 2:0 result first against Iceland away and later at home against Liechtenstein.
Florin Niță – Sparta
Andrei Daniel Vlad – Steaua
Mário “Camora” Jorge Malico Paulino – Cluj
Vlad Chiricheș – Sassuolo
Virgil Ghiță – Farul
Cristian Manea – Cluj
Ionuț Nedelcearu – Crotone
Andrei Rațiu – Huesca
Adrian Rus – Fehervar
Alin Toșca – Gaziantep
Alexandru Cicâldău – Galatasaray
Andrei Cordea – Steaua
*Ianis Hagi – Rangers
Dennis Man – Parma
Marius Marin – Pisa
Răzvan Marin – Cagliari
Dragoș Nedelcu – Fortuna
Darius Olaru – Steaua
Deian Sorescu – Dinamo
Nicolae Stanciu – Slavia
Jovan Marković – U Craiova
*Dropped because of COVID-19 positive test.
The match between Macedonia and Romania is scheduled for Wednesday 8 September at 20.45 CET.
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