Kosovo vs Romania

The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League Group C/2 commences at the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri as Kosovo and Romania lock horns in their third-ever showdown.

During their relatively short international history, Kosovo has become a respectable football nation as they gear up for their third League C campaign. While the odds remain stacked against them versus the highest seed in the third tier, Dardanians will unlikely feel fazed about Romania’s stature after avoiding defeat at the start of their last three Nations League campaigns (W1, D2). However, Kosovo and Romania shared the stage in Euro 2024 qualifying, with Franco Foda’s team going winless in both duels (D1, L1), including a tepid 0-0 draw on home soil. Stalemates have been a running theme in Kosovo’s recent home matches, with five of their last nine ending level (W3, D5, L1). Against this backdrop, none of their nine Nations League games at home have seen the spoils shared (W6, L3).

Visiting Romania could extend that record, but for the worse, as they head into the new Nations League full of optimism after reaching the knockout stages at Euro 2024, only to lose to the Netherlands in the round of 16. Standout success in Germany offers the Tricolour renewed hope that they could secure a swift return to League B after suffering relegation to League C in 2022/23, largely thanks to going winless on all three road trips in that edition (D1, L2). However, they’ve never lost an away match in League C (W2, D1), forming part of their unbeaten run in their only previous third-tier campaign (W3, D3).