“Whoever comes, let him come and be us as we should be”

Andrei Rațiu spoke about the victory over San Marino, but also about his national evolution, in the context in which he was charged that under the “tricolor” he does not have the same performance as with the club team, Rayo Vallecano. Also, when asked about which opponent he wants in the semi-final of the play-off, Rațiu said: “I am not interested in whoever comes to the play-off. We have not earned the right to choose”

Andrei Rațiu reacted after Romania – San Marino 7-1: “I think that after the match with Cyprus then I had a fall”

“We're aware that we didn't have a good qualifying campaign. We didn't do things the way we should have done, but I'm glad we gave a good picture in the last game for everyone who sat in the cold and rain for the last game. We didn't start the way we should have against San Marino, but we woke up and then unlocked.

The first match we started wrong in terms of the result, but we played well. I think that after the match with Cyprus at their place I had a fall. We had to regain our confidence. We need to be more aware and mentally stronger to be ready for the play-offs.

They were everything in this campaign, we also lost many players. We didn't adapt at first. We made a group of the League of Nations, then we didn't start the qualification properly and it showed.

I have been exposed to criticism since I entered the field. I accept them, I want to do my best and I want to give the best for the national team and the club team.

I'm no different at club than with the national team, we just play differently. Rațiu is seen more there, here less because we have quality players up front and I am seen less. I'm interested in the team, not Rațiu.

I don't care who comes to the dam. We didn't earn the right to choose. Who comes, let him come and be us as we should be. It's football and anything can happen, but I think we didn't do what we were supposed to be where we were supposed to be,” Andrei Rațiu told Prima Sport.

On Thursday, Romania will find out its opponent in the semifinal of the World Championship

• The draw for the World Championship play-off route will take place on Thursday 21 November

• Romania will face one of Italy, Turkey, Ukraine and Denmark in the semifinal of the pool. Romania will play away regardless of the opponent and it will be a single game. The play-off semi-final will take place on March 26, 2026. If they go through this match, Romania would play on March 31 in the final