Romanian national team coach Mirel Rădoi announced what should be a definitive squad for the upcoming WC opening qualifier against Macedonia.

photo by RFR: Romania in autumn 2020

Romania has some COVID-19 related problems. Coach Mirel Rădoi is positive and won’t be able to attend the trainings and the matches, while their reserve keeper Andrei Radu had to be dropped after a covid cluster was reported at his club Inter. However, couple of days before the match Radu got good news from his club as was given permission to join his national team.

Definitely the goalee position is the biggest problem for Romania as after the retirement of Ciprian Tătărușanu the national team was left with keepers without NT experience. The current three keepers have a total of 3 caps combined. Radu is also uncapped.

Experienced central defender Dragoș Grigore is also out of the squad as he is injured.

Macedonia and Romania have previously met 5 times with the Romanians winning the 4 qualifying matches (2 for 1998 WC and 2 for 2006 WC) with Macedonia winning the most recent match, a friendly 11 years ago. You can view the details about those matches here.

Florin Niță – Sparta
David Lazar – Astra
Florin Iacob – UTA
Andrei Radu – Inter

Vasile Mogoș – Chievo
Ionuț Nedelcearu – AEK
Alin Toșca – Gaziantep
Vlad Chiricheș – Sassuolo
Andrei Burcă – Cluj
Mario Camora – Cluj
Ovidiu Popescu – Steaua
Nicușor Bancu – U Craiova

Răzvan Marin – Cagliari
Alexandru Crețu – Maribor
Nicolae Stanciu – Slavia
Ianis Hagi – Rangers
Alexandru Maxim – Gaziantep
Erik Bicfalvi – Ural
Valentin Mihăilă – Parma
Dennis Man – Parma
Florin Tănase – Steaua
Florinel Coman – Steaua
Alexandru Cicâldău – U Craiova

Claudiu Keșeru – Ludogorets
George Pușcaș – Reading

Romania hosts Macedonia at the Arena Națională in Bucharest on Thursday the 25th with a kick-off scheduled for 20.45 CET, or 21.45 local time. Three days later Romania will host Germany at the same venue, while on the 31st visits Armenia.