Ex-Galatasaray player pronounces 3 “tricolor” names: “They can make a difference”

• Turkey – Romania will be played on March 26, from 19:00, match broadcast by Prima TV. If we win, we play the World Cup qualification final against Slovakia/Kosovo on March 31, 2026

• Gazeta Sporturilor has 6 experienced reporters in Istanbul, who deliver the most important information, the best reports and a series of multimedia correspondence.

The former great midfielder played for Romania at the 1990 World Cup and believes that the pinnacle of any footballer's career is to be on the pitch at a World Cup.

A connoisseur of Turkish football, having played for Galatasaray between 1990 and 1992, Iosif Rotariu said that the “tricolors” must overcome the incendiary atmosphere in Istanbul, where the fans are “the 12th player”.

Asked by the GSP reporter who can make the difference, the Star legend mentioned 3 names: the selector Mircea Lucescu, Ianis Hagi and Valentin Mihăilă, who plays in the Turkish first league, at Alanyaspor and Rizespor, respectively.

Iosif Rotariu: “The World Championship is the ultimate dream for a football player”

– What are your expectations from the match with Turkey?
– I'm going to the match in Istanbul, I'm leaving on Wednesday. I have high expectations, like all people in Romania. It will be a very difficult match, we are playing with a team that has individuals similar to the big teams in Europe, they have an audience that supports them, I am the 12th player, I know from the time at Galatasaray. They have the advantage of their home ground and some players who are in the best teams in Europe.

– Yes.
– Arda Guler at Real Madrid, Hakan Calhanoglou at Inter, Kenan Yildiz at Juventus, there are also those from Galata, Baris, Yilmaz, Bardakci. There is also Akturkoglu, who was at Galata and Benfica, and now plays at Fener. It's a strong team, but it's only one game where anything can happen.

– Are Romania's players ready to face this atmosphere?
– If you want to qualify for a World Championship, you have to overcome any atmosphere, any obstacle. Even if you didn't play in Istanbul and did it somewhere else, the atmosphere would have been the same, you are playing a decisive match for qualifying for a World Cup. A whole country is watching you. Everyone expects something from them, they need to be connected.

– So…
– In my opinion, the peak for a football player is to reach a World Championship. At a World Cup you come across the best players in the world, South Americans, Africans, the best in the world come, it's not like a European Championship. It's the ultimate dream for a football player.

Iosif Rotariu: “First of all, I have great confidence in Mircea Lucescu. I also have expectations from Ianis Hagi and Mihăilă”

– From whom do you hope to bring something extra, who can make a difference?
– First of all, I have great confidence in Mircea Lucescu, he knows Turkish football very well, he also coached the national team there, he was at Galata and Beşiktaș, he won trophies. He knows the profile of the Turkish footballer, who is more aggressive than the Romanian footballer.

– And from among the players?
– From those who play in Turkey. There is Ianis Hagi, who is successful, there is also Mihăila, who plays in Turkey. But for a single player to decide the match, at such a level, is a bit difficult. But I expect a flash from Ianis Hagi, maybe a free kick. It can make a difference at any time.

– We come to the match with problems, Ionuț Radu was injured, there are deficiencies in the attack.
– Here is the minus of the national team. First of all, Ionuț Radu was in very good shape. Here is a problem. I don't know who Mr. Mircea Lucescu will choose, but the problem is with the goalkeeper. There is also the suspension of Drăguș, in the attack, but the big problem is the goalkeeper.

2 trophieswon Iosif Rotariu with Galatasaray: Turkish Cup and Supercup in 1991

4 titleswon Iosif Rotariu with the Star (1987, 1988, 1989, 1998)

Iosif Rotariu: “He will choose between Stanciu, Vlad Dragomir and Răzvan Marin in the middle”

– In the middle, who would you see as the starter?
– That depends on the system. If he plays with two defenders, in quotes, he will choose between Stanciu, Vlad Dragomir and Răzvan Marin. Because there's Man on the right, Ianis Hagi in the center, Mihăilă on the left and Bîrligea in front. In the middle is the question. If Marius Marin was valid, he was the holder.

– Screech?
– There's Screciu, but he's played central defender in a 3-man system lately. So it would be more difficult to move from one post to another. And with such opponents, with such a stake.

25 matcheshas Rotary at the national team, the most important at the WC 1990