Article by Remus Dinu, Andrei Furnigă (video) – Published Friday, November 14, 2025, 12:51 / Updated Friday, November 14, 2025 12:56
Gică Popescu, 58 years old, former great footballer in the national team, ex-captain of Barcelona, believes that a result other than victory would be synonymous with a considerable setback for the “tricolors” of Mircea Lucescu. National must win at Zenica to improve their chances of finishing second in the group.
The prospects of the first national team have revived considerably after the dramatic victory brought by Virgil Ghiță last month. On Saturday, from 21:45, Romania tries to double its surprising success against Austria with three points in front of Bosnia, a success that would smooth our way to the second place in the group.
Gică Popescu, 115 appearances and 16 goals under the tricolor, emphasized the importance of the game in Bosnia, suggesting the “tricolors” to be prepared to face the most hostile conditions in the “hell” prepared by the fans of the ex-Yugoslavia.
Gică Popescu, before the decisive Bosnia-Romania match: “Definitely victory, otherwise what we did is equal to zero”
“It's a game we have to win to continue the good run we've had so far. This victory is absolutely necessary, otherwise all that has been done in the past has zero value.
I think we have this ability to go to Bosnia and win, because we proved it especially in the last home game (no with Austria, 1-0).
It will certainly be a hostile atmosphere, but these are the beautiful matches, when you have pressure, when the fans of the opposing team are aggressive. These things should motivate you when you wear the national team jersey, said Gică Popescu on Thursday, present at Poiana Brașov for the LPF General Assembly.
What Romania could look like with Bosnia: I. Radu – Rațiu, Ghiță, Racovițan (Rus), Chipciu (Bancu) – M. Marin, V. Dragomir – Man, I. Hagi, Mihăilă – Bîrligea (Drăguș)
“I didn't understand Mirel Rădoi's departure”
Asked about the “tectonic movements” in the Super League, “Baciul” showed his surprise at the untimely breakup between Mire Rădoi and Universitatea Craiova: “I liked Craiova this season. I didn't understand Mirel's departure. It had a very good run, I think it was the team that played the best. To lose the coach in the middle of the championship is not very pleasant”, commented the president of Faru.
