Israel vs Romania Predictions

• Israel have seen both teams score in eight of their last 11 games.
• Meanwhile, Romania have found the net in five of their last eight outings.
• The visitors should be able to trouble a defence which conceded to both Moldova and the Faroe Islands in World Cup Qualifying.

Free-scoring Israel meet solid visitors

Although Israel will not be at the World Cup in Qatar, their qualification campaign was a largely respectable one, as they finished third in a tough group behind Denmark and Scotland but above Euro 2020 competitors Austria. Israel also entertained, hammering home 23 goals in their 10 games, but were unable to stem the flow at the other end.

Indeed, their tally of 21 goals conceded was only two shy of that shipped by group minnows, the Faroe Islands, but it made for some enthralling contests. 10 of the last 11 games played by Israel have contained over 2.5 goals, and eight featured goals at both ends. Israel were on the receiving end of a few thrashings in 2021, losing 4-0 in Portugal, 5-0 in Denmark, and 4-2 in Austria, but went unbeaten in their four home games during the calendar year.

Romania, on the other hand, have seen under 2.5 goals scored in eight of their last nine games, losing out to North Macedonia for a play-off place in Group J after scoring just 13 goals in their 10 qualification matches. Edward Iordanescu took over as boss in January, with his first game at the helm ending in defeat to Greece last Friday.

Israel should net, but porous defence makes goals at both ends likely

Despite Romania’s goalscoring troubles last year, they have scored in five of their last eight games, and they should certainly be able to trouble a home defence which was breached, on average, over twice per game in World Cup Qualifying.

Both Moldova and the Faroe Islands found the net in defeats in Israel at the tail end of last year, with the former ranked some 134 places lower in the world than Romania by FIFA. With that in mind, back both teams to score, while a 2-1 win for an Israel side looks a decent punt, with the hosts unbeaten on their own turf in a year.