Why didn't Nicolae Dobrin play a minute at the 1970 World Cup? The Emeric Dembrovschi goalscorer confesses after 55 years: “There were two reasons”

One of the greatest Romanian footballers of all time, Nicolae Dobrin, lived the hardest moment of his career in Guadalajara, watching from the stands all three games of our band moved to the World Championship in Mexico.

Coach Angelo Niculescu refused to use it on the grounds that the “trivale magician” was not properly preparing, complaining because of the heat in Mexico. It was also said that the Pitesti was losing the nights, returning to the hotel late.

Emeric Dembrovschi was a goalscorer at that final tournament and confesses

“I can only tell you what I know, what I saw. Honestly, at the take -off to Mexico, Dobrin was a holder in the national offensive compartment, along with Lucescu, me and Dumitrache. But he drank a lot on the plane, got drunk and started making a scandal. He swore to the heads of the federation, even Nea Angelo, the coach, threatened to take them out of office, things.

He also had back, that he was supported by the press, by Eugen Barbu and Fănuș Neagu, who immediately jumped, that why not play Dobrin. That was the first episode. At the hotel or during our stay there, I don't know. Many were said to drink, because he was leaving the canton, but I have never seen him drunk there. Then there was also the problem of accommodating with the climate, with the conditions.

At the training matches in Mexico, or at training, Dobrin was only in the circle in the middle of the field. Could not run. I know how it is, that it happened to me a year before, in the tournament in Brazil, when I was asking for the change in the 20th minute. I could not stand, I could leave football. That's how Dobrin happened. He was a huge footballer, but he was still a man. And then the question arose to play who can, who resists, who is able to run, face.

Remember, it was that terrible group, with England, the world champion, with Czechoslovakia, future European champion, with Brazil, who won the world title at that edition. With Dobrin I understood very well, I respect each other, I never had problems. Maybe with him in the field we would have been even stronger. But everything is history, 55 years have passed, ”explained Emerovschi for the Sports Gazette.

Emeric Dembrovschi, along with the legendary Pele

After Mexico, I never discussed with Dobrin on the subject of his failure. He knew I was a more severe guy, plus that he should have given himself completely. It was just not to stay all day to pray for him, to the detriment of others. He was always complaining that it was hot. I said to her: Dobrine, an umbrella footballer was not born
– Angelo Niculescu

Cornel Dinu: “Dobrin played only 3 good matches on the move”

“My opinion is that there was a certain mental ankylosis, a stubbornness. When I got there, I all knew that Dobrin is doing very well in the atmosphere at home. Gicu Dobrin was a brilliant player and went to his ramp to” invent “at home games. It is not only my opinion, but it is the opinion of some journalists at that time, who said that Dobrin played only 3 good matches away.

In Mexico, I think it was a more delicate moment for him and for the delegation. There not all the players could withstand a training match, Angelo Niculescu told Dobrin to let the ball faster, and Dobrin told him that “what to let go of the ball, that we are barely in boots.” On Gică at the interest of the presence in training.

After the World Championship in Mexico, he said he would no longer come to the national team. The one who went with Mircea Angelescu to Pitesti to bring him back to the national team. That is, the Dinamo group. There are many evils that continue and after decades and it is a shame that the witnesses there are not listened to, ”said Cornel Dinu a few years ago.

47 selectionsand 6 goals gathered Dobrin to the first representative, between 1966-1980

What did Romania do at the 1970 World Championship

The first match in Guadalajara was against England. Alf Ramsey's band has prevailed thanks to the goal scored by Geoff Hurst, 1-0. There was a victory with Czechoslovakia, score 2-1, with the Romanians returning from 0-1. Markers Sandu Neagu and Florea Dumitrache from the penalty.

The last match in the group was the most spectacular. But how could it be otherwise when you had as opponent the selected Brazil. It was 3-2 for South Americans.

The goals of Pele and Jairzinho gave a reassuring advance to the Cariocas band, but Florea Dumitrache showed that Romania also had quality players, marking for “tricolors”. Pele increases the advantage of the Brazilians after the break, but the last word has ours, through Dembrovschi.

3 trophiesBy “Romanian footballer of the year” he conquered Dobrin: 1966, 1967, 1971