FIFA’s 22nd-ranked Romania (0-1-1, 1 point) will look to improve its ranking among third-placed teams in the group stage of the 2016 UEFA European Championship as they meet lowly Albania (0-2-0, 0 points) in the third and final round of Group A competitions. The match is set to be held at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon on Sunday, June 19.
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Romania is still winless after two rounds of group matches as they bowed to France, 1-2, during their tournament opener last week.
The team did better in the second round as they held world no. 15 Switzerland to a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes in Paris to salvage a point in the overall standings, as per ESPN.
Striker Bogdan Stancu netted the opening goal of the contest for head coach Anghel Iordanescu’s boys at the 18th minute as they looked to upset the Swiss squad, but Bayer Leverkusen forward Admir Mehmedi found the equalizer at the 57th to guarantee Switzerland at least a third place finish in the group.
Tricolorii can still finish second to France in Group A if they can pull off a two-goal or more lead over Albania in this match while the Swiss loses to the Frenchmen in their own third round encounter.
Meanwhile, Albania had lost all of its two games so far in the tourney as the team dropped its first game versus Switzerland, 0-1, last Saturday.
The Red and Blacks are coming off a 0-2 defeat to France at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on Wednesday to also remain winless, Daily Mail Online reported.
Head coach Gianni De Biasi’s squad looked headed to an impressive goalless draw with Les Bleus, but Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann managed to score at the stroke of full time to bury Albania’s hopes.
West Ham winger Dimitri Payet added another one in stoppage time to make it a two-point lead for the Frenchmen.
The Dacians are favored to win this match against the Eagles, but Albania would be fighting hard to try and earn their place in the knockout stages.
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for Romania.
Romania vs starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Tatarusanu; Sapunaru, Chiriches, Grigore, Rat; Prepelita, Pintilii; Torje, Stancu, Chipciu; Keseru
Albania starting lineup (4-1-4-1 formation): Berisha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Mavraj, Agolli; Kukeli; Lila, Abrashi, Memushaj, Lenjani; Sadiku
