Article by Maria Olteanu – published Monday, May 26, 2025, 14:17 / Updated Monday, May 26, 20:17
Mircea Lucescu (79 years), the coach of the Romanian national, announced the batch on Monday at noon which will count on the action of June of the “tricolors” in the preliminaries of the World Cup 2026, for the matches with Austria and Cyprus (at home). On his list, there are several surprises, such as Vali Crețu's, Vlad Chiricheș, Vladimir Screciu and Valentin Mihăilă, or David Miculescu's convening for the first time.
In the lot there are no less than 8 players from FCSB and three from Craiova University, while Dinamo and CFR Cluj give only one representative to the lot, and Rapid and U Cluj, the other play-off teams, have no player.
The only player in the play-out that was called to the lot is Denis Alibec, the striker at Lighthouse. In addition to the 14 players in the internal competition, 13 strangers were also called for the June matches.
Vali Crețu, at the lot after 5 years
Valentin Crețu (36 years old), the right defender of FCSB, will return to the national team after a break of almost 5 years.
The veteran from the Romanian champion group returns under the tricolor for the preliminaries of the CM 2026, the last appearances to the national team being in November 2020. Then, Romania, under the command of Mirel Rădoi, evolved in the group of the League of Nations.
Initially, on November 11, 2020, Crețu took 20 minutes in 5-3 success with Belarus, in a friendly match, organized instead of the match with Norway, who was won at the “Green Mass” of Tricolori, in the context of the Covid Pandemic. A week later, Crețu played 64 minutes in 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland.
Vali Crețu in the FCSB – Hermannstadt match. Photo: Eduard Vînătoru, GSP
Vlad Chiricheș, after 3 years at national
Vlad Chiricheș (35 years old), the defender of the FCSB champion, also returns to the lot after a 3 -year absence. He last played under the tricolor on June 14, 2022, in the failure with Montenegro, score 0-3, in the League of Nations. Then he was an Edi Iordănescu selected, and Chiricheș was used central defender, on the position he consecrated.
Chiricheș was the captain of the “tricolor” the last time he was part of the Romanian national team. Filtered by numerous injuries, Chiricheș has not come to the lot in recent years, and in the absence of Nicușor Stanciu he has taken over the banner, becoming the leader of the present generation.
Vlad Chiricheș, on June 14, 2022, in Romania – Montenegro 0-3/ Photo: Imago Images
Vladimir Screciu returns to the national team, after the injury that made him miss the Euro 2024
Vladimir Screciu (25 years old), the defensive midfielder of the University of Craiova, also returns to the lot, after an absence of more than a year, due to medical problems.
The Oltean born in Corabia had become a basic man in Edward Iordănescu's gear and could not miss the final tournament in Germany, but an injury suffered in April 2024 could not go to European and need a long recovery period.
4 matchesIn the preliminaries of the European Championship of 2024 Vladimir Screciu has at the national of Romania
Vladimir Screciu, the central midfielder at Craiova University // PHOTO IMAGO IMAGES
Valentin Mihăilă has recovered and can count on him with Austria and Cyprus
Another return to the national team is that of Valentin Mihăilă (25 years old), the left wing of Parma. The former player of Craiova was the basic man of the national team at the final tournament, but also in the autumn campaign, the League of Nations.
He was injured, however, and could not come to the lot for the debut in the preliminaries CM 2026, missing the matches with Bosnia and San Marino. Even though the information in Italy was not the best, Mihăilă returned to training, under the command of Cristi Chivu, and was now called by Lucescu for the matches of June.
Valentin Mihăilă, photo: Imago Images
5 goalsIn 29 appearances Valentin Mihăilă has at the national of seniors of Romania
Raul Opruț, after 14 months to batch
Raul Opruț (27 years old), the left defender of Dinamo, also returns to the national team, after almost 14 months. The last time he was called to the lot was happening in March 2024, using 87 minutes in the friendly with Colombia, score 2-3, from Madrid, before Euro 2024.
Later he did not catch the lot for the final tournament, nor the summons for the League of Nations or the debut in the preliminaries CM 2026.
The opposite river
David Miculescu, the first summons
David Miculescu (24 years old), the right wing of FCSB, is at the first summons to the Romanian senior team. The good shape shown in the red-blue shirt, in which he did 12 goals and two decisive passes, propelled into the group of the first representative, his work being rewarded by Mircea Lucescu.
4 goalsIn 23 appearances at the Romanian and youth national teams David Miculescu has
David Miculescu. Photo: Imago
Romania's group for matches with Austria and Cyprus
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porter: Florin Niță (Damac | Saudi Arabia, 31/0), Horațiu Moldovan (Sassuolo
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Defenders: Andrei Rațiu (Rayo Vallecano | Spain, 29/1), Valentin Crețu (FCSB, 2/0), Andrei Burcă (Baniyas 27/2), Vladimir Screciu (Craiova University, 4/0), Nicușor Bancu (Craiova University, 46/2), Raul Opruț (Dinamo, 4/0)
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Midfielders: Marius Marin (Pisa | Italy, 30/0), Vlad Chiricheș (FCSB, 75/0), Adrian Şut (FCSB, 5/0), Răzvan Marin (Cagliari | Italy, 67/12), Nicolae Stanciu (Damac (Parma | Italy, 35/9), Deian sorescu (Gaziantep FK
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Attackers: Denis Drăguș (Trabzort | Turkey, 22/5), Denis Alibec (Constanța Lighthouse, 43/6), Daniel Bîrliga (FCSB, 3/1), Louis Munteanu (CFR Cluj, 1/0)
