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Romania – San Marino, the last match of the WC 2026 preliminaries, will be played on Tuesday, November 18, from 21:45, in Ploiesti, at the “Ilie Oană” stadium.
The Eyupspor striker was sent off in Zenica against Bosnia for a rough tackle two minutes after being introduced.
While Racovitan made a mistake in the coach's view on Bosnia's first goal, scored by Edin Dzeko (39 years old), in the 49th minute.
VIDEO | Mircea Lucescu, “acidic” in the conference, before Romania – San Marino: “You can't enter the field like this!”
Lucescu he criticized Drăguș for the way he entered the field with Bosnia and reproached him for not thinking ahead at all. He hasn't talked to him since, but he appreciates his qualities.
Racovițan blamed Dzeko's goal, but he found an excuse in the fact that in Rakow, the club team evolves in a system with three central defenders. The national team only played with two.
“We use players who don't play and who don't manage to last the whole game. For me there is no sporting form. For me there is running. To be able to run. Always know what you have to do in different areas of the field. If you fail to do them, the team loses.
I had absolutely no discussion with Drăguș. I never even saw him again. I had a special relationship with him. I have supported him constantly throughout this period. I gave him workouts to do.
I believed and believe in his extraordinary qualities. You rarely find such players. Speed, technique, strength, dribbling. The whole point is to get your mind set as a professional.
If not, miss out. That's why I didn't even want to talk to him. You can't enter the field like this! There are players who go in like that without thinking ahead. As a professional player you need to visualize the steps you need to take at all times.
I have the biggest fault. I am responsible for the non-qualification. I am responsible for everything that results. They are responsible for the game, both. Do you want anything else? You're going to ask me when I resign. I am resigning, no one is dismissing me, so no problem!”, “thundered” the selector.
I played with Racovitan. He played very poorly, he is guilty. I understand him, he is the third central defender. Here the distances are greater. He got a little lost. In goal he had to go man to man, use his body and hands, not let him control the ball.
I am guilty. It's normal. Every time the boss is to blame. I haven't found the best solutions. I'm also guilty because I didn't get a penalty against Bosnia, because I gave red to Drăguș (no – ironic).
– Mircea Lucescuthe Romanian national team coach
At the end of the conference, Lucescu was asked again about a possible departure, at which point he got up and nervously left the room.
“I said I didn't want to talk about it. I said, you keep rubbing me to say the same thing, that I won't be. It can't be.”
VIDEO | The moment Lucescu nervously leaves the press conference
Ranking from the Romania group
