Surprise Absence from Romania’s Squad for San Marino Find Out the Reason

Romania’s national football team is set to face San Marino in their final World Cup qualifying match. This game is scheduled for tonight at 21:45 in Ploiești. San Marino is currently the lowest-ranked team in FIFA, making this a critical match for the Romanian squad.

Surprise Absence from Romania’s Squad for San Marino

Head coach Mircea Lucescu has announced a 23-man roster for the match, but there are notable absentees. Three players from the expanded squad of 26 will not participate: Marius Marin, Valentin Mihăilă, and Denis Drăguș. Each player’s absence has a unique reason.

Reasons for the Absences

• Marius Marin: Currently dealing with medical issues.
• Denis Drăguș: Suspended following a direct red card in the previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Valentin Mihăilă: His absence comes as a surprise. He played an essential role in the previous match, assisting the goal scored by Bîrligea.

Although Mihăilă had a significant performance in Zenica, the coaching staff opted to rest him due to minor concerns following his extensive 90-minute play. This decision considers his limited game time at Rizespor over the last three months, where he participated for just 142 minutes.

Match Context and Implications

Regardless of the outcome against San Marino, Romania can only finish third in Group H. However, they still hold a glimmer of hope for qualifying for their first World Cup in 28 years, needing to navigate a difficult playoff round. The first match in this two-leg playoff could feature tough competition, likely against Italy or Turkey.

As Romania aims to secure a win and enhance their chances for the playoffs, the match against San Marino will be crucial in determining their future in the World Cup qualification process.