Why were we afraid we did not escape! Turkey was considered “boo-boo” in the GSP survey, last in the list of preferences » What are we doing at the dam?
Article by Cezar Titor – Published Thursday, November 20, 2025, 5:21 p.m. / Updated Thursday, November 20, 2025, 5:22 p.m.
The draw for the UEFA play-offs took place today in Zurich. The first “hop” of the tricolors is the semi-final with Turkey, scheduled in Istanbul on March 26. Just the night before, GSP published a material accompanied by a poll with the question: “Which opponent do you prefer in the play-off for WC 2026?”
More than 7,000 readers voted, and the results were as clear as possible: Turkey was last in the list of options, being perceived by far as the most difficult opponent. The representative of “Semilunii” collected less than 1,000 votes, 919, that is, only 13% of the total.
PHOTO. GSP poll result: Turkey, last in the list of preferences regarding the opponent in the play-off
GSP poll result: Turkey, last in the list of preferences regarding the opponent in the play-off
Out of the 7,068 votes collected, Ukraine was by far the public's favorite option, with 42%, with 3,000 readers indicating it as the ideal opponent.
Surprisingly, Italy came in second place with 24% (1,674 votes), followed closely by Denmark with 21% (1,475). At a great distance, in the area considered “forbidden”, Turkey remained. The team that the fates sent in the way of the tricolors was perceived as the most difficult opponent, remaining at a great distance in the tail of the preference ranking.
If the students of “Il Luce” will succeed in imposing themselves in Istanbul, against the team that the most famous Romanian coach prepared between 2017 and 2019, an all-or-nothing match will follow: the play-off final, which will be played on March 31, 2026, also away!
On Romania's road to the “visa” for North America, either Kosovo or Slovakia would appear.
We met with Kosovo both in the qualification campaign for EURO 2024, where the defense of the tricolors remained intact, 0-0 in Pristina and 2-0 in the National Arena, as well as in the League of Nations. Then, we won 3-0 away, and the match at the country's biggest stadium ended “with a song”, awarded to the “green table” by Romania. We also met Slovakia recently, in the last group stage of the European Championship in Germany. The duel ended 1-1, a result that confirmed qualification, arm in arm, for both national teams
