debut, Borota got a surprise opportunity to start in the crucial qualifier away versus Romania that was a must-win for Yugoslavia. The contest turned into a furious and epic scoring affair with Borota amateurishly conceding a long-range lob effort by Iosif Vigu only 4 minutes in. Plavi overturned the score to 1–2 by the 18th minute on a goal from Safet Sušić and a superb 25-meter strike by Dražen Mužinić, but the momentum shifted again as Anghel Iordănescu and László Bölöni managed to beat Borota twice more by halftime for 3–2 Romanian lead with poor aerial heading effort and bad positional play of Yugoslav defenders contributing to both goals. Early into the second half young Sušić took over again: first with a great individual move blowing by several defenders before scoring followed ten minutes later by a hard driven low shot off a laid-on free kick, for a 3–4 Yugoslavia lead. Still, Romanians mustered up one more comeback, albeit partial with a headed goal by Dudu Georgescu for 4–4, but Yugoslavs responded right back through Aleksandar Trifunović and Zoran Filipović by the end for a 4–6 final score. Despite a win being recorded, Borota was demoted to the bench as Katalinić went back between the posts for the next must-win qualifier at home versus Spain that Yugoslavia had to win by 2 goals in order to qualify. Following the failure to beat Spain and qualify for the World Cup, the coaching commission was disbanded with only Vilotić continuing as the head coach for the time being. He led the team in two friendlies and gave Borota a substitute appearance against Italy. Euro 1980 qualifying For the start of Euro 1980 qualifying in the autumn of 1978 FSJ brought back Biće Mladinić, who at the time also led FK Partizan, to be the next national team head coach. The campaign began at home versus old rivals Spain and Yugoslavia lost again as Borota sat on the bench. For the next qualifier away at Romania on 25 October 1978, Mladinić gave Borota (his goalie at Partizan) a start. The high scoring from the previous qualifying cycle from a year earlier repeated again, but this time Romania won 3–2. Vladimir Petrović put Yugoslavia up on a penalty kick for 0–1 at halftime, but Romanians came back in the second half with three unanswered goals (a brace by defender Ștefan Sameș followed by Iordănescu