“It didn't take off the way we expected”

Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Sunday, 16 November 2025, 00:03 / Updated on Sunday, 16 November 2025 00:05
Bosnia – Romania 3-1. Ciprian Marica (40 years old), the former striker of the national team, reacted after the drastic failure. The “Tricolori” can no longer finish in 2nd place and will have one infernal route at the dam in March.
Guest at GSP Live Special, author of 25 goals for the national team, Marica criticized Ianis Hagi (27 years old). In his view, Alanyaspor's midfielder was far below his usual level.
He was replaced in the 75th minute with David Miculescu (24 years old).
VIDEO | Ciprian Marica, conclusions after Bosnia – Romania 3-1: “No one was there to encourage the team”
Marica claims that the national team dreamed beautifully in the first half, when they led 1-0. Everything collapsed, however, after the elimination of Denis Drăguș, at the score of 1-1.
Moreover, the former striker claims that the national team did not have a leader, a player to encourage his colleagues, taking into account the complicated moments in Zenica.
“I dreamed well in the first half. I looked good and look what it means not to score the 2nd goal, to have a chance to score and not do it. Then, of course, the difficult terrain did not let us use our strengths. I'm referring to Ianis Hagi, he didn't go out on the ramp as we expected, on a difficult terrain. Emotionally fragile at many times.
There was no one there in the hard times to cheer the team up and be seen to be a pillar, to pull the team behind him in the hard times. Difficult with the change at half-time when the Bosnians started to take risks and also introduced the second massive striker, important for them, who scores.
And we were surprised. I had no reaction, I went into the second half and let them completely take over the game. It was only a matter of time before we were wrong.
We made a mistake, they also had a chance with Dzeko's ball which remains in the box, then deflected and goes between the goalkeeper's legs.
And then everything fell apart with the elimination of Drăguș, who had no intention of taking the red, did not want to put his foot on his head, but an imprudence that costs us dearly, this dream of beating Bosnia away, this possibility”, said Marica, on GSP Live Special.
That goal in the 48th or 49th minute kind of killed us mentally. But at the same time it was a poor half in terms of involvement, in terms of tactical idea. Ok, you get a goal, it can happen, but we got it with a half to play.
We needed a bit to recover and re-enter the match. The match was probably going to 1-1 if Drăguș didn't get that red card, that's where the match was headed. That 1-1 gave us hope. That's what happened today.
– Raul Rusescuat the GSP Live Special
PHOTO GALLERY. The most spectacular images from Bosnia – Romania





