Cosmin Contra, verdict in the possible duel with Italy for World Cup qualification » Prognosis for Inter
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 11:12 / Updated Tuesday, November 18, 2025 11:20
Cosmin Contrahis former player AC Milan in the 2001-2002 season, he confessed that he will be a Rossonero fan in the Derby della Madonnina on Sunday. “I always stick with the teams I played for, I hope they don't get upset Chivu. I think Cristi would also agree Inter to win the Champions League and Milan to take the title. We saw that we can face Italy in the group stage, but I'm not telling you anything!”, said the current coach of Al-Arabi, in the interview in Gazzetta dello Sport.
Cosmin Contra prefaced the Inter – Milan derby on Sunday (9:45 p.m., live text on GSP.ro and live on Digi Sport 1 and Prima Sport 1) and responded to the challenge of the Italians to also talk about the eventual play-off semi-final for qualifying for the 2026 World Cup (the draw for the pool matches will take place on Thursday).
“Guriță”, author of 7 goals in 73 selections in the Romanian national team, avoided the answer regarding a possible match in Italy for access to the play-off final: “I saw, I saw… But I don't declare anything on this topic (no – he laughed)”.
44of matches Cosmin Contra played at AC Milan, scoring 4 goals and 5 assists. He was bought from Alaves for €7 million in 2001 and then sold to Atletico for just €3 million after just one year
Cosmin Contra, decisive victory on Al Arabi's bench. PHOTO: X
Cons: “Cristi is a good friend of mine. He is the leader with Inter in Serie A and in the Champions League. He couldn't start better than that!”
Contra did not shy away from praising Inter's technician: “Cristi is my friend and I wish him all the best in the world. We played together in the national team, we have known each other for a long time and we keep in touch.
He came to Inter in June, before the Club World Championship, and had to do everything quickly. The start was not easy, but he turned it around with a great winning streak and now leads Serie A and the Champions League. It can't be better than that!”.
The ranking says that it will be a title derby, and I believe that the two Milanese teams can fight until the end to win the championship. It's been a while since this happened and I find it fascinating
Cosmin Contraformer AC Milan player
Cosmin Contra also confessed on whose side he will be on Sunday evening: “I always stuck with the teams I played for, so I will be a fan of Milan. Chivu will forgive me. I would sign on the spot for AC Milan to win lo scudetto and Inter to take the Champions League. I think Cristi would be pleased too.
Cosmin Contra and Cristi Chivu, starters in the Romanian national team at EURO 2008 / Photo: Imago
Cons: “A great feeling, because I scored with my left. And, above all, that the Milan derby is not just any game”
Inter is a strong team, the players have been together for years and have reached the Champions League final twice. Milan has changed a lot in recent times, but Allegri has proven that he is a great coach. The results obtained so far prove it. He has brought the club back to the top, where it deserves to be.”
Inter now lead the standings, but there are no favorites in derbies. Perhaps the Nerazzurri, who will be playing at home, will be under more pressure as they want to avoid being overtaken by Milan and have not beaten the Rossoneri in five games
Cosmin Contraformer AC Milan player
“Guriță” recalled for the Italians the only derby won against Inter. On October 21, 2001, also with the Nerazzurri as hosts, Contra entered after the break in Albertini's place and contributed decisively to overturning the result (Milan won 4-2), with a goal and an assist for Filippo Inzaghi.
The indescribable joy of Cosmin Contra after the goal scored in Inter – AC Milan 2-4 from October 2001 / Photo: Imago
Cons: “If I had stayed, I know I would have won the Champions League”
“It was a miserable first half, ending with 0-1 (no – Ventola goal). Then I entered the field with offensive tasks, because I did not play right back, but almost as a winger, with the aim of centering as much as possible. We scored three goals in six minutes and got a big win“, said Contra.
I watched that goal a few times, also because I didn't often score with my left foot, being right-handed. That time, instead, I also shot his ball into the top corner of the goal. It was a great feeling, I admit, especially because the Milan derby is not a match like any other
Cosmin Contraformer AC Milan player
Cosmin also recalled that “we reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and the following season we qualified in the groups after a preliminary round in August (no – against Slovan Liberec), and then I was sold to Atlético Madrid. It was a great experience, we had a world-class squad: Shevchenko, Maldini, Rui Costa, Pirlo, Gattuso, Inzaghi, Albertini”.
Asked if he regrets staying only one year at Milan, Al-Arabi's current coach was honest: “I know, I would have won the Champions League in the final in Manchester against Juventus…
Milan had transferred Cafu and I had received an offer from Atlético to return to Spain, in a league I knew. looking back, it's easy to say I would have made a different choice, but you can't go back in time.”
Cosmin Contra, with Adriano Galliani, the former president of AC Milan / Photo: Imago
I still keep in touch with a few colleagues. I spoke to Gattuso recently, who is doing a good job with Italy. He was unlucky to face a superb Norway in the group, but I am confident that he will qualify for the Worlds. He is a good coach, has good ideas and works with passion
Cosmin Contraformer AC Milan player
