Rangers’ Europa League last 16 clash with Slavia Prague will be of keen interest in Romania.
The Meeting between the Scottish Premiership champions elect and the Czech cracks see two of the countries’ stars go head-to-head.
Ianis Hagi and Nicolae Stanciu are both vying for a spot in Mirel Radoi’s national team with the common consensus in the country that they can’t play together effectively.
With 2022 World Cup qualifiers against North Macedonia, Germany and Armenia fast approaching, Radio has a big decision to make and the meeting between the two clubs could go a long way to helping him make it.
Former Romanian international Ovidiu Sabau reckons Stanciu is the favourite given he can play as a central attacking midfielder, and has urged Steven Gerrard to do similar with Hagi for Rangers.
He told Look Sport: "It's very important where Ianis plays. If he plays on the side, he sees less of the ball. Stanciu plays centrally, so he takes the ball more.
"It is clear that the successes are less on the wing, but in the middle of the field there are bigger spaces."
However Brazilian Eric Pereira, who spent a good chunk of his career in Romania, disagrees and believes the improvement Hagi has shown this season means he should be picked ahead of Stanciu.
He said: "Ianis has better figures than Stanciu in won duels and dribbles. I've seen Ianis in the last matches and he's stronger than he has been for Romania.
"In Thursday's match he fought a lot, even if he didn't score or pass a goal, he fought, he won duels, he was the third man in the goal phase.
"We see a stronger Ianis."
