National team: Immediate goal, win in Lithuania

After a convincing win against Cyprus, the Romanian national football team traveled to Kaunas, where they will play their next Nations League match against Lithuania. With a confident team, three consecutive victories, the "tricolors" are looking to continue the good streak, which would consolidate the first place in the group.

The program before today's goal was a "classic" one. The players who were not actively involved in the Cyprus match carried out a training session on Sunday morning, while the starters had a recovery session. However, the team also experienced a shock, a drastic change in weather conditions, going from temperatures of 30 degrees in Larnaca to just 8 degrees in Kaunas. Romania will play without Nicuşor Bancu, suspended for the accumulation of yellow cards, he is already returning to the club team. The selector Mircea Lucescu emphasized that the official training will not take place at the playing stadium, in order to protect the turf. Also, Lucescu warned about the difficulties the team will encounter in Lithuania, not only because of the difficult terrain, but also because of the significant climatic differences. However, the technician is optimistic, noting the maturity of the team and the streak of three consecutive victories. Lucescu believes that the match can be decisive for securing qualification, especially if the team manages to maintain its current form: "Victory is victory. Another very difficult match is now coming up and the weather conditions and the difficult terrain in Lithuania will be challenges. It's good for the boys that they've made it three wins, which means a lot for the morale of the team." "I think if we win in Lithuania as well, there is a 90% chance that we will finish first in the group. This maturity has brought us to this point and makes us win matches", said Răzvan Marin, one of the team's key players. "It is early now to talk about qualifications. There are three more matches in the Nations League group, in December is the draw. We are preparing, it is up to us to make life difficult for Mister, to make it difficult for him to choose the first eleven. You also know, we also know that the last World Cup we participated in was in 1998 and you know how difficult it is to get there. We know there is room for improvement in our game and that's why we have these Nations League matches, to test ourselves, to rise. Our thoughts are on the World Cup! We know it will be difficult, I think we are in the second urn for the draw, but we will see in December in which group we will be", said the captain of the team, Nicolae Stanciu. Today's game is very important for Romania, which will fight with Kosovo for the head of the group in the League of Nations.

The match will be refereed by the Scot Nicholas Walsh, assisted on the two lines by Graeme Stewart and Calum Spence. Christopher Graham will be the reserve, and John Beaton and Ross Hardie will be in the VAR room.