Romania vs Belarus

Romania’s unrelenting bid to secure a place at Euro 2024 continues at the Arena Nationala against sub-par Belarus.

Romania strolled to a commanding 2-0 win at minnows Andorra on day one to set the tone for a potential second European Championship qualification since 2016. But the ‘Tricolours’ are well advised to avoid complacency if they’re to solidify their place in Group I, considering you’d need to go back to 1998 for the last time they won their opening two Euro qualifiers. Flying out of the traps could be crucial to Romania’s bid to replicate that feat after each of their three home matches in last summer’s UEFA Nations League saw the winner on the day take a 1-0 lead at halftime (W2, L1). Topically, Edward Iordanescu’s men have been in front at the break in three of their previous five Euro qualifying wins at home.

On the other hand, Belarus’ faint hopes of advancing into the European Championship for the first time as an independent nation suffered a fatal blow on day one as Switzerland humbled them 5-0 in Novi Sad, Serbia. Switching over to Bucharest’s 55,000-capacity Arena Nationala won’t offer any respite, with Belarus’ last competitive triumph over a side in FIFA’s current top 50 dating back to 2010! If that’s not enough to throw the visitors to their knees, their underwhelming three-game away form in last summer’s Nations League (D1, L2) should do enough. Lapses in concentration in the later stages of play saw Belarus drop points thanks to goals conceded beyond the hour mark on all three occasions. On top of that, they ominously succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Oman on their most recent travel.