Israel and Romania face off at the Pancho Arena in Hungary for their penultimate Group I fixture in Euro 2024 qualifying on Saturday.

While the Sky Blue and Whites are preparing for their third of four qualifiers in the space of 10 days this month, the Tricolours are gearing up for their first fixture since beating Andorra 4-0 last month.

Match preview

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Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Alon Hazan's side have shown a real fighting spirit to remain in contention for an automatic qualification spot in Group I, and they claimed a valuable point in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Wednesday.

Three days after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Kosovo, Israel were on course to lose by the same scoreline after Ruben Vargas had given Switzerland a first-half lead. However, Granada striker Shon Weissman came off the substitutes' bench to net an 88th-minute equaliser, forcing both nations to share the spoils.

A total of 12 points have been accumulated by Israel across their eight Euro 2024 qualifiers – one more than they managed in 10 qualification matches for Euro 2020 – and they currently sit third in Group I, four points behind Switzerland and Saturday's opponents Romania in the top two.

The Sky Blue and Whites know that they cannot secure a top-two finish in Group I if they fail to beat Romania, but they are guaranteed at least a playoff spot regardless of Saturday's result thanks to their efforts in the UEFA Nations League – sitting top of League B Group 2.

Ranked 71st in the world by FIFA, Israel have only lost one of their last six international matches, but they have failed to beat Romania in each of their last three meetings including a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in Group I in September.

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After missing out on Euro 2020 qualification in the playoffs, Romania an on the cusp of punching their ticket to Euro 2024 via the automatic route in Group I, as they have picked up 16 points during an unbeaten eight-game fixture schedule, sitting second and only behind leaders Switzerland on goal difference.

Goals from Nicolae Stanciu, Ianis Hagi, Razvan Marin and Florinel Coman helped the Tricolours cruise to victory on home soil against Andorra last time out, keeping their third consecutive clean sheet in the process.

Edward Iordanescu's men know that they will qualify for next year's tournament in Germany if they avoid defeat against Israel, while a win could put them in the driving seat to secure top spot in Group I if Switzerland fail to beat Kosovo.

Romania, ranked 48th in the world by FIFA, will be confident of success on Saturday as they have only lost one of their last 12 international games across all competitions over the last 14 months – a 2-1 friendly defeat to Slovenia on home soil in November last year.

The Tricolours have only won two of their last nine matches on the road, though, while they have won just one of their previous seven encounters with Israel – a 2-1 friendly victory away from home in March 2018.

Team News

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Israel are having to cope without injured wingers Manor Solomon and Liel Abada, while Sagiv Yehezkel was forced off with an injury in the first half of the defeat to Kosovo last weekend and subsequently missed the draw with Switzerland; the attacker is expected to remain sidelined on Saturday.

However, Israel are able to welcome back Roy Revivo from suspension and the defender will likely replace Ofir Davidzada at left-back, joining Eli Dasa, Sean Goldberg and either Raz Shlomo or Miguel Vitor in the back four.

Eran Zahavi has returned to the Israel squad this month for the first time in a year since his fallout with Israeli sporting director Yossi Benayoun, and after coming off the bench in midweek, the nation's all-time leading goalscorer (33) will hope to force his way into the first XI on Saturday at the expense of Dor Turgeman.

As for Romania, Iordanescu has no reason to shake up his backline after keeping three successive clean sheets, so Radu Dragusin and Andrei Burca are set to start again at centre-back, protecting goalkeeper Horatiu Moldovan.

Ianis Hagi, the son of Romanian icon Gheorghe Hagi, could retain his place in the number 10 role, which would likely see Marin and captain Stanciu operate in deeper midfield roles.

Daniel Birligea was handed his senior international debut against Andorra last time out and he will be hoping to fend off competition from George Puscas and Denis Alibec to keep his place up front.

Israel possible starting lineup:
Glazer; Dasa, Vitor, Goldberg, Revivo; Do. Peretz, Navi, Abu Fani; Khalaili, Zahavi, Gloukh

Romania possible starting lineup:
Moldovan; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu; Marin, Stanciu; Morutan, Hagi, Coman; Puscas

We say: Israel 2-2 Romania

While Romania can settle for a draw on Saturday, the onus is on Israel to take the game to the Tricolours as they endeavour to claim the maximum points required to keep their top-two hopes alive.

Both nations could not be separated in the reverse fixture two months ago and another closely-fought contest may be on the cards in Hungary, which could therefore see the spoils shared in an entertaining draw.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Oliver Thomas

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