Article by Eduard Apostol – Published Saturday, 03 January 2026 22:18 / Updated Saturday, 03 January 2026 22:47
The selector Mircea Lucescu, 80 years old, will arrive in Antalya next week to watch various friendly matches of the Romanian teams and footballers who come to his attention for the match against Turkey on March 26 in Istanbul. Members of his staff arrive in Turkey tomorrow, Sunday
Romania is pinning its hopes on the confrontation with Turkey on March 26, in the semi-final of the play-off for a place at the World Championship this summer on American soil. Later, on March 30, the winner of the duel at BJK Stadium will meet, away, the team that will win in the match between Slovakia and Kosovo.
Mircea Lucescu begins the preparation of the dam with Turkey in Antalya! The selector inspects the players
Mircea Lucescu is expected in the following days, next week, in Antalya to watch the work of various Superliga teams that have decided to come to Turkey in the centralized winter training. The selector will also supervise the footballers who will enter his views for the confrontation with the Turks.
The Romanian teams start training matches on Tuesday. Il Luce will arrive in Antalya again, as he did last year. He will surely watch the friendlies of Craiova University, Rapid, Dinamo and U Cluj, and the test match of FCSB, with Beşiktaş, will give the coach a special moment. He will be reunited with one of his soul students from Turkey, Sergen Yalçın, 53 years old, currently the main “eagles”.
Until Lucescu's arrival, the members of the national team's staff will arrive in Antalya tomorrow, Sunday. Seconds Ionel Gane, Florin Constantinovici and Leo Toader, as well as Mihai Stoichiță and Marius Niculae, will follow the Romanian teams including during training.
3trophies won by Il Luce with Turkish club formations: the European Supercup and the championship with Galatasaray, the championship with Beşiktaş
The father of the only Romanian church in Istanbul: “We hope for a miracle! 1-0 for Mr. Lucescu”
Father Sergiu Vlad, 46 years old, who serves in the only Romanian church in Constantinople, told today in an interview given to Gazeta Sporturilor that Mircea Lucescu crossed the threshold of the holy place in September 2025.
Among other things, he told how the Turks come to see the Romanian national team in the church premises “because they appreciate and love him” and how the Lucescu family helped, over the years, the holy place in the metropolis on the Bosphorus.
“Mr. Lucescu got involved so that we, the Romanians, could pray in this place”, said father Sergiu Vlad, who, for 16 years, has been serving at the Romanian church in Istanbul.
“With God's help many things can be done and we hope it will be a miracle. Romania will succeed in defeating Turkey and it will be a moment of joy and celebration for all Romanians.
I always start with the hope that we will win. I have the same hope now. Score? 1-0. Knowing Mr. Lucescu's professionalism, I am convinced that the players will be mobilized and will do their best to fulfill what they are taught and achieve victory”, said father Sergiu Vlad.
