Levi Rothermund
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Romania host Sweden in the UEFA Nations League on Monday 5 October 2026, and both camps arrive with very different selection pictures behind their predicted lineups. Gheorghe Hagi’s side have barely changed personnel across their last three outings, while Graham Potter has shuffled a touch more at the edges, and that contrast in rotation is the real story before either team sheet is confirmed. What follows is our projection of each starting XI, built from who has actually been selected recently rather than any official announcement.
Predicted Romania Line-up
Romania are projected to line up in a 4-3-3, which lines up with Gheorghe Hagi’s own preferred formation. The side looks largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, suggesting Hagi has a clear first-choice group even with a thin sample to draw on. Ionuț Andrei Radu is pencilled in between the posts despite missing the most recent game, while further forward Louis Munteanu has started only one of the last three fixtures used for this projection, making him the one place in the XI that looks least certain.
Romania predicted XI: Ionuț Andrei Radu; Virgil Ghiță, Andrei Rațiu, Radu Drăguşin, Nicușor Bancu; Valentin Mihăilă, Tudor Băluță, Ianis Hagi; Daniel Birligea, Dennis Man, Louis Munteanu
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Ionuț Andrei Radu | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | Virgil Ghiță | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 2 | Andrei Rațiu | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 3 | Radu Drăguşin | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 11 | Nicușor Bancu | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 13 | Valentin Mihăilă | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 6 | Tudor Băluță | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 14 | Ianis Hagi | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| F | Daniel Birligea | 2/3 | 2/3 | |
| F | 20 | Dennis Man | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| F | 9 | Louis Munteanu | 1/3 | 1/3 |
Sweden Predicted XI
Sweden’s expected XI comes in a 4-2-3-1, the shape Graham Potter has favoured with this group. Like their opponents, the Swedes look largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, and the spine of the side has barely moved across the matches used here. Hampus Skoglund is the clearest exception, with only one start in that span, while Viktor Gyökeres has started every single one of the three games this projection is built on and looks the most certain name on the sheet.
Sweden predicted XI: Viktor Johansson; Victor Lindelöf, Carl Starfelt, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Hampus Skoglund; Sebastian Nanasi, Alexander Bernhardsson, Lucas Bergvall, Yasin Ayari, Jesper Karlstrom; Viktor Gyökeres
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 12 | Viktor Johansson | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 3 | Victor Lindelöf | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 15 | Carl Starfelt | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 5 | Gabriel Gudmundsson | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 22 | Hampus Skoglund | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| M | 19 | Sebastian Nanasi | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 21 | Alexander Bernhardsson | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 7 | Lucas Bergvall | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 18 | Yasin Ayari | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 16 | Jesper Karlstrom | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 17 | Viktor Gyökeres | 3/3 | 3/3 |
Team News and Confirmed Absentees
For Romania, no absentees are recorded in the data, leaving Hagi with a full group to pick his predicted lineup from. With everyone available, the bench offers depth rather than enforced change, and Răzvan Marin – who has started twice in the matches used here – looks the most obvious option to come into the side if Hagi opts to rotate.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| x7lm7ph9e10m2wd | injured | Jumpers knee |
Sweden’s team news is more straightforward: Emil Holm is out injured, a blow that thins the full-back options at the back. Besfort Zeneli, who has started twice across the recent matches considered here, is the bench player best placed to step into the backline reshuffle this absence may cause.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emil Holm | D | injured | Hamstring muscle injury |
Where These Predictions Come From
Each predicted lineup here is built from the last three line-ups fielded by Romania and Sweden respectively, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones when working out who starts most often. Anyone confirmed injured or suspended has been stripped out of contention before the XI is assembled. This is a projection, not a confirmed team, and it can and will change once the official line-ups are named closer to kick-off.
Read also: Romania vs Sweden Prediction: 05.10.2026 UEFA Nations League Preview
Read also: Romania vs Sweden Head-to-Head: Record, Stats and Form as of 3 Oct 2026
FAQ
What formation are Romania and Sweden expected to play?
Romania’s predicted lineup uses a 4-3-3, while Sweden’s expected XI is set up in a 4-2-3-1.
Who is predicted to start in goal for Romania vs Sweden?
Ionuț Andrei Radu is projected to start in goal for Romania, with Viktor Johansson expected to continue in goal for Sweden.
Who is unavailable for Romania vs Sweden?
Romania have no recorded absentees for this match, while Sweden are without Emil Holm, who is out injured.
When do Romania and Sweden kick off?
The UEFA Nations League fixture between Romania and Sweden kicks off on Monday 5 October 2026.