“The bar is too high, where do we play, where do they play?!” » Why would Ukraine prefer the dam
Article by Eduard Apostol – Published Sunday, November 16, 2025 7:48 p.m. / Updated Sunday, November 16, 2025 8:33 p.m.
Paul Codrea, 44, analyzed “tricolor” and came to the conclusion that “that's enough, we've been here for about ten years now”. Say why you would not agree with the change of selector and make a comparison between the two parties, Romania and Bosnia: “We through Turkey, China and Arabia, they in Italy, Spain and Germany”
We've been losing qualifiers on the conveyor belt for years and failing to make it again – at least directly – to a final World Championship tournament. The last time I was at the Coupe du Monde was in 1998 in France.
We missed the World Cup with footballers who had a CV superior to those of today. For various reasons, I didn't get “there”! In a period when we had people fighting in the Top 5 championships or in teams with a European level.
Do you still remember Paul Codrea? A hearty, fearless, bold midfielder, the Banatian played for a decade in Il Calcio and was important in the national team in an era when there were Cristi Chivu, Adi Mutu, Răzvan Raț, Daniel Pancu, Mirel Rădoi, Bogdan Lobonț and others.
Codrea was a footballer who slipped and fought for the ball with Seedorf, Kaka, Del Piero, Totti, Beckham plus many other Serie A titans.
6teams Codrea gathered in Italy: Genoa, Palermo, Perugia, Turin, Siena and Bari
Paul Codrea on what could come next for Romania at the dam: “Everything is above Romania, but let's say that Ukraine would be at our level”
In an intervention for Gazeta Sporturilor, Paul Codrea analyzed the performance of the “tricolors”. Knowing how it is in the grass, he found explanations for the syncopes of Mircea Lucescu's students. On the other hand, he does not agree with the “sacrifice” of the selector. He explained why.
“It's easy to throw stones now… I really had hopes for this game, not to mention the group when the draw was made, I would have thought we could draw 1st place after the 2024 run.
Inexplicable the fall in the second half, even if the opponents had entries at the limit of regulation. OK, we knew we weren't a team that could dominate a head-to-head match, but let's see what happened in the second half,” Codrea told GSP.ro.
44of selections, the man from Banat joined the national team, also scoring a goal
“The “dam” isn't bad either, maybe we have time to prepare it like the rest of the world by March next year. Anyway, it's clear, we're not favourites. You have to play. Chances of reaching the World Cup? Maybe. (laughs) Maybe!
This is us, what to do?! That's it for now. They (the players) gave as much as they could. If that's all they can do now, what can you do?! There were also lot problems, as evidenced by Zenica's stout defense.
Chances are there, theoretically, at the dam. It would be absurd to say that we start with a favorite. Valoric, they are all over Romania. Let's say that Ukraine would be at our level. Let's say. I say he would be a more approachable opponent. Because of the conflict with Russia, they seem to be playing in Poland.
Poland showed that it fought from equal to equal with the Netherlands, it is a force. There's no point in commenting on Italy, it's maximum strength, we know what matches we've always had with this national team.
What can I say about Turkey?! I think he also played well against Spain, when he won 7-0, but then the Turks were very, very unlucky. And see which teams the Turks play for, in the big championships with the big powers”, explained the former international.
111matches and 6 goals was collected by Paul Codrea, former central midfielder, in Serie A. In Romania he played for LPS Banatul, Dinamo, Poli Timișoara and FC Argeș
Paul Codrea, pro-Mircea Lucescu: “Who says he should leave someone else?!”
“It would be absurd for Mircea Lucescu not to continue. OK, and if it was a failure, it's not normal to change coaches after a few matches. With us, one or two, “Resignation, resignation!”. He also had a lot of bad luck, with injuries, with problems with Drăgușin, Stanciu, Mihăilă.
Who says they have to leave someone else? One thing is what the microbiologists say, another is what the specialist says. It doesn't seem normal to me to change just like that, for the sake of changing. Or resign. Let's stay with you, let's see what happens next. I think it's the most balanced decision. As long as we have a chance, we're clinging to it.
And one more detail. Let's do the analysis and see where the Romanian internationals play and then see if we are entitled to dream so high. Ours play through Turkey, through China, through Saudi Arabia. Bosnians through Italy, Spain and Germany. So… Our bar is set too high. We have been together for about ten years now…”, concluded the former international.
