Romania hosts Poland on 14 November in Nations League, still without a point

The match and what is at stake

Romania host Poland at the National Arena in Bucharest on Saturday, 14 November, with kick-off at 21:45. It is one of the last two fixtures in the Nations League group, and it comes after four defeats and zero points in four matches. Sweden beat Romania 2-1 and 1-0, Bosnia and Herzegovina won 4-2, and Poland won 6-0 in Warsaw, the most severe of the four defeats. Romania sit last in the group. A fifth straight defeat would be a run the team has never reached, since the Federation's 2022 history of the national team records four consecutive defeats as the previous worst.

Hagi's pre-match message

Gheorghe Hagi, speaking at a press conference on Friday, 13 November, said he was optimistic that Romania would play a good match against Poland.

“I am optimistic that we will play a good match, against an opponent who knows football.”

Hagi described Poland as a quick, reactive side with very good players, and said Romania hoped to do better than in the 6-0 defeat in Warsaw. He asked his players not to concede many goals, to score, and to play 90 minutes with personality. He said there would be changes, because some players had played a lot and were not at their peak sharpness and rhythm. He also said the squad had to learn from its defeats.

Absences and selection

Ionuț Radu and Nicolae Stanciu could not answer the call-up because of medical problems. Hagi said he had spoken with Stanciu and that there was no situation to clarify, adding that Radu had a known problem and had chosen a recovery period. Asked about the absences, Hagi said the team could only adapt. He said he hoped to use experienced players Dennis Man and Ianis Hagi, who are currently not playing for their clubs, in both matches, and called Ianis's situation at his club not a good one.

“I will never cry over any player. We are in the national team. The team, the federation, Romania is much bigger than any player.”

Hagi argued that the squad outweighs any individual footballer.

Traffic and fan rules

Bucharest traffic police announced restrictions around the arena. From 22:00 on Friday, 13 November, parking will be banned at the roundabout in front of the arena complex entrance on Strada Maior Coravu. On Saturday, 14 November, traffic will be restricted gradually from 17:00 on several streets, and Strada Tony Bulandra will close until the event ends. The Romanian Football Federation's rules limit flags to 1 metre and identity banners to 2m by 1.5m, with larger banners needing written approval. Bags larger than A4 are barred, along with pyrotechnics, glass containers, lasers, vuvuzelas and megaphones. The Arena Fanilor fan zone opens at 18:45, with entry only through the Bilete FRF app, and the Federation says violators can be removed or banned from stadiums.

What comes next

Romania's final group match is away to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, 17 November, at 21:45 at Bilino Polje in Zenica. Finishing last would mean relegation to League C, which the coach's priority is to avoid. Romania still have no points after four matches. Both remaining fixtures kick off at 21:45.