Article by Sergiu Alexandru – Published Wednesday, October 15, 2025 9:20 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, October 15, 2025 9:42 p.m.
Victor Pițurcă (69 years old) spoke with Gazeta de Sporturilor on the hottest topic of the last few days: the national team.
The former coach praised the performance of the “tricolors” in the match against Austria (1-0) and said that the national team's footballers are obliged to double the good result at the National Arena with a success in Bosnia. He does not consider the absence of the first central defenders (Drăgușin, Burcă and Mihai Popescu) a problem.
The coach who led Romania to EURO 2000 and EURO 2008 also spoke about the scandal that broke out in the public space between Mircea Lucescu and Răzvan Marin, being of the opinion that “everything that happened is wrong.”
The Romanian national team, through the eyes of Victor Pițurcă: “A very solid game against Austria. It was not seen that they have players in the big teams”
– Hello, Mr. Pițurca. We wanted to discuss a little about everything that happened at the national team in the last few days. Let's start with the beginning. How did you think the Austria match?
– I already think it's a thing of the past. We have to think about what will happen next, that is the very important match against Bosnia. Our game against Austria was good and solid. We also had fate on our side, because we scored in the last phase. Everything was very good.
– Did you think that Romania surprised Austria?
– I can't say I surprised them. It was a good game from us. The Austrians had no chances to score, and that is very important. This did not happen, to the credit of our team. We were really more dangerous, even if Austria has more qualified players who play for big teams in Europe. This did not matter. Our team caught a very good moment. And it seemed to me that the Austrians thought at first that they would win. Along the way, they saw that the Romanian team was better and were satisfied with a draw. But they didn't get it.
– Did you like any particular player?
– I didn't notice because the team is important to me. The group is more important. That's how you win matches. Especially with the national team, where every match and every point is important. For me the team matters. I was glad that Ianis Hagi returned. I did not expect him to have such a good game, because he has played very little lately. It was very important for us.
– Do you think that Ianis gives a better performance in the center than in the lane?
– I think he plays well anywhere. Of course, his position is attacking midfielder, number 10.
– Vlad Dragomir, what did you think?
– I'm surprised it hasn't been selected yet. Good, good, good his game. Both defensively and offensively. I liked it very good.
Victor Pițurcă: “What happened at the national team was not right”
CONTEXT:
– How do you perceive all these discussions with Răzvan Marin and Stanciu in the foreground?
– What can I say? There are two important players for the national team. Especially Stanciu. This is a matter of the national team's internal kitchen. One should not talk too much in public if there are more tense moments in the heart of the national team. Lucescu has a lot of experience… What happened was not right. The national team needs all the valuable players. It is very important that all important players come to the national team.
– What exactly was wrong?
– Everything that happened. It was not good! I don't want to accuse anyone. It was not good for the national team. Everything had to be discussed between them, anything negative that happened had to be fixed immediately. Everyone has to pull the same bandwagon and get results.
– However, the surprising reaction of Mircea Lucescu.
– It was not good for the national team. There are moments and moments. Even an experienced coach like Mircea Lucescu, especially in the situation in which the national team is, is a little out of sorts. It was hard to bear everything that happened to him. He wasn't feeling very well. On the contrary, he said he wants results. Any coach, especially at the end, wants a big result. That's what he came for. He has suffered a lot, and here he is again stepping wrongly. A lot of things have been written, probably untrue. I think untrue. What does this mean, to appear in the press that he fell asleep during the massage? And if he fell asleep what happened? I don't understand what the problem is. They are ugly things.
– Just to joke a little, you know very well what it's like for a selector to be criticized all the time.
– I also went through this when I was winning. I've been through worse. To me they are… But I know what it means.
– Do you still think that Stanciu and Marin are indisputable starters for the national team after the last statements given by Lucescu and the way Dragomir and Hagi played?
– Let's be serious. Stanciu, lately, has been one of the best players of the national team. He was the captain of the team, he was the engine, the one who pulled the team behind him. Other things look in a month or two. So things should not be seen in that way. The national team needs them. But the selector decides. He wants results. And he will put the best players on the field. Once again, I say that the national team needs them. Do we have so many value players that we are thinking of removing the value players who have done the heavy lifting in recent years?
– Do you think that Mircea Lucescu will sit on the bench at the dam for CM?
– I don't think it should be put on the wall. He was always asked about his resignation. He was annoyed by this question. I know how much it bothers you. I said that if we win with Austria, the situation will return to normal a little. And so it was. Of course, now we have to continue with a good result in Bosnia.
Mircea Lucescu / Photo: Cristi Preda GSP
Victor Pițurcă: “For many years, Romania has not had such an easy group”
– Where do you think we will finish the group?
– We have a chance to finish in 2nd place. Sure, we have the play-off secured because we won the Nations League group. Chances are. It's not like the old days. Let's say straight. We haven't had an easier group than this, for World Cup qualification, for many years. They are talking about Austria. It's a good team, but let's be serious! It does not compare with Portugal, Spain, France. It is far from these teams. It's a pity that I started the group with the left and lost points. We could finish in first place. Now it doesn't matter anymore. But just what we will do in Bosnia. Because Bosnia will also play for victory. He wants first place.
Bîrligea is a strong attacker, he runs a lot. He has the strength to fight opposing quarterbacks. Munteanu is something else. It's smoother, it has executions. There's also Cute. He started many times and had good matches. In a way, he pulled the team after him.
– Victor Pițurca
– We will play in Bosnia without the first central defenders.
– No problem! Burca was very important, because he is the undisputed holder. Maybe that's where the lack will be felt. But we have centre-backs. I don't know who will play, I don't like to talk. But we manage. We are bound to manage. Here, Ghiță entered and brought victory. After the match with Austria and Bosnia, he can become the undisputed starter and no one will remove him.
