Romania’s first Euro 2024 matchup is against Ukraine, after two disappointing friendlies. The teams first drew 0-0 with Bulgaria and then once more with Liechtenstein. Head coach Edward Iordănescu started a different lone striker in each of the two games. Denis Drăguș, who played for Turkish club Gaziantep last season while on loan from Standard Liege, was his choice to start against Bulgaria. The head coach selected George Puscas, a former forward for Reading FC, for the second friendly. In Group E, Romania is expected to be viewed as the least strong team, with Belgium being the clear favorite. If they are to advance at all, they will need to find someone who can score. Puscas played in Serie B on loan at Bari for the last few months of the season, where he finished with four goals in fifteen appearances. With 11 goals in 42 games for the national team, he has a respectable record. It will be his first significant competition for the team.
However, Drăguș has been performing far better. With 35 games in all competitions in Türkiye, the 24-year-old scored 15 goals. After a while, he returned to the side in this manner.
Iordănescu has two more alternatives, even though these two were involved in the previous two friendlies. Denis Alibec, who moved from the Romanian division to the Qatari Stars League in August of last year and has five goals in 21 games there, is an experienced option for him. Daniel Bîrligea, a forward for CFR Cluf who has scored 15 goals in 46 games this season, is the only other Romanian player to have scored in double figures.
Romania does have some creative talent, but they won’t be able to advance past the group stages if they can’t find a danger at the top.
