EURO 2024 - The Only Goal, Qualification for the Final Tournament in Germany

The national team is very close to taking two steps that would lead it to the final tournament of next year's European Championship. The calculations are quite simple, two victories against Israel and Kosovo would solve the equation. There are other options, but they involve more variables, including the outcome of matches in which the national team is not directly involved. The opponents are not frightening, not even now, when the team has fallen quite low. Israel is on an upward trend, but it is approachable, Kosovo has many problems, especially related to cohesion, but it must be admitted that it's the kind of team that can be tricky. Given these circumstances, the optimism among the squad is not misplaced. The first match against Israel is scheduled for Saturday, September 9th, at 9:45 PM at the National Arena, and on Tuesday, September 12th, at the same time at the same stadium, the clash with Kosovo will take place.

Coach Edward Iordănescu conveyed a message before the matches with Israel and Kosovo in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, expressing confidence in the national team's ability to pursue its dream: "We have the obligation to represent Romania and our football with honor, and the outcomes of European cup competitions in recent days make this obligation even greater." Iordănescu also had a message for the supporters: "We are facing an important moment on our path to EURO 2024. The matches against Israel and Kosovo represent a significant opportunity for a serious qualification option. It's an opportunity we've earned through our performances in the matches so far, and we must capitalize on it, approach these games with determination and maximum focus! We have a real chance to return to the European Championship after 8 years. I believe we have the quality and the necessary value to succeed and pursue our dream. I have confidence in the players and their spirit of sacrifice. The journey in these qualifiers has shown that this team can, and more importantly, that it fights until the end for the goal we set. I don't want to talk about the players who are missing for medical reasons. As I've said before, I'm here, together with my staff, to find solutions, not excuses. The selection for these two matches wasn't based solely on individual talent. There are players we're monitoring, they've been with us, and their club form is good, but at this moment, for a challenge of this level, we chose players with more national team experience who have been part of this core more consistently. At the same time, there are players who could return to the national team circuit if their recent good performances become a constant. We've embarked on a path, and we're continuing because I am convinced this is the way to the European Championship. I believe the strength of the group and the cohesion these players demonstrate on and off the field can take us where we all want to be. We have the obligation to represent Romania and our football with honor, and the outcomes of European cup competitions in recent days make this obligation even greater. My message also goes to the supporters of the national team. Dear Romanians, let's be united and support our players in these matches that can take us so close to qualification. Let's show that we are a true team and that we fight together! We need your support, and I strongly believe that at the National Arena, with 50,000 Romanians in the stands, we can achieve anything. With confidence, spirit, hard work, and cohesion, we will reach EURO 2024!"

The team captain, Nicolae Stanciu, stated that if the first national team wins the next two matches against Israel and Kosovo, it will be well on its way to qualifying for EURO 2024: "I am quite optimistic about qualification. The results so far make me feel this way. I know what we can do as a group, so we are looking forward to these two matches with confidence. We are highly motivated to win these matches because they are crucial, so to speak. Because if we take 6 points against Israel and Kosovo, we will take a big step toward qualification and, consequently, achieving our goal. We are on track now, although I think we could have done even better. But we are in a qualifying position, and I hope we stay there until the end of the campaign. We are undefeated in the group, and we want to continue that way. Again, if we win 6 points now, we will be well on our way to EURO 2024." Stanciu hopes that the National Arena in the capital will be full for the matches against Israel and Kosovo because the first national team needs the support of the fans: "It's a good thing that we're playing at the National Arena, although I know that many national team supporters would like us to play in other cities in the country as well. The National Arena is the largest stadium, and it will certainly be packed, and this will help us. I hope the fans come in large numbers because even though I have many matches with the national team, I don't think I've ever played in front of a full house. We are now, so to speak, in the final stretch of this campaign, so we need the support of the fans. I hope that in the end, we can celebrate together." According to the Romanian Football Federation, no less than 12 players in Romania's squad have grown up in foreign football or developed there, going abroad before turning 20. These are players born abroad, who left for other countries in their childhood or were the subject of transfers to clubs abroad during their youth, up to the age of 20. In essence, players whose development and refinement were deeply influenced by Western European football. Alibec, Puşcaş, and Bîrligea, meaning all three strikers in Romania's squad, come from an Italian background. The first two arrived at Inter Milan, while the latter went to Cantera Ribolla and then Palermo. The trend continues in the midfield, where Marius Marin, who went to Sassuolo very early, and Ianis Hagi, who was also developed by Fiorentina, can be found. Then there's Tudor Băluţă, with experience at Brighton in England, and Screciu, who spent years in Belgium at Genk and Lommel. The defense offers us 5 players! Andrei Raţiu and Bogdan Racoviţan, born and raised in Spain and France, respectively, plus Rus (now in Hungary), Drăguşin (Italy), and Manea (Belgium). Regardless of where they were developed and the clubs they play for now, the national team players need to show that they are a cohesive team to succeed in qualifying for EURO 2024.