Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Monday, March 23, 2026, 1:47 p.m. / Updated Monday, March 23, 2026, 1:55 p.m.
On October 12, 2012, Romania won in Istanbul against Turkey, 1-0 in the preliminaries of the 2014 World Championship. Dorin Goian (45 years old), a full-time player in that match, prefaces the imminent duel against the Turks, this time in the qualifying round for the final summer tournament.
- 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, reports and a series of multimedia correspondence.
Before Turkey – Romania, the “tricolori” are urged to be inspired by what one of the previous generations of Romanian internationals achieved 13 and a half years ago.
In the fall of 2012, in the preliminaries of the World Championship, the first representative team coached by Victor Pițurcă managed to win in Istanbul, at Fenerbahce's stadium, with 1-0. Gheorghe Grozav scored the only goal of the game in the 45th+1st minute.
Dorin Goian was also on the field in that match, even as a full-time player. He paired in the center with Vlad Chiricheș, and the flanks of the defense were provided by Răzvan Raț and Gabriel Tamaș.
Dorin Goian, integralist in Turkey – Romania 0-1, in 2012: “Defense and counterattack”
Today, on the GSP Live show, Goian recalled that victory.
“Indeed, then it was a very, very good organization, the preparation of the game was great. You know that nea Piti prepared every game down to the smallest details. That's what I always appreciated about Mr. Pițurcă. I, at least, when I entered the field I knew absolutely everything about my direct opponent and these viewings helped me a lot.
We used to complain that the video sessions, the analyzes were too long, but the fact that you knew absolutely everything about your direct opponent and the opposing team, as a game, weak points, strong points helped us a lot.
Then we had mostly defensive players, that's why Piti chose to play with two defenders. Otherwise he covers in front of the defense than he manages alone, this in case we were playing in 4-3-3.
Then I played mainly defensively. The tactic was to play on a possible counterattack. That's what we did with that game of Gicu Grozav, but defensively we managed a very good match.
But the value of Turkey then and now… Turkey seems to me to be stronger now than it was then. And then she was very strong, but now it seems to me, at least on an individual level… Their players are at a much higher level than us”, recalled Goian.
Romania finished in 2nd place in a group that also included the Netherlands, Hungary, Turkey, Estonia and Andorra. He thus advanced to the qualifying round, where Greece was too strong, 3-1 in the round, 1-1 in the return leg.
Dorin Goian: “The fact that I missed qualifying for a World Championship is one of my biggest disappointments”
Missing that qualification represents one of the “big disappointments” professionally for Dorin Goian.
“Romania has to give everything to qualify this team for a World Cup. We haven't done it for a very long time, these are matches that will stay in everyone's mind for many years to come. An evolution of a player, a goal scored or an assist will stay in the mind of all supporters. After all, these are the matches that really matter.
I'm sure they are aware of the importance of this game. I personally have not been able to qualify for a World Championship. One of my regrets as a player is missing the play-off against Greece, one of my biggest disappointments.
I hope these players are more inspired than we were in that double with Greece and to play a very good game. Even if the opponent is clearly superior to us, a lot can happen in football with a very good tactic and a very good spirit, but also with a little luck”, added the former central defender.
Turkey – Romania 0-1, box:
TURKEY (4-2-3-1): Demirel – Gonul, Kaya, Toprak, Ali Kaldirim – M. Topal, Belozoglu – H. Altintop, Arda Turan, Sararer – U. Bulut
They played before: N. Sahin, E. Colak, Erdinc
reserves: M. Gunok, C. Gonen – Korkmaz, Irtegun, C. Erkin, M. Ekici, Torun, A. Yilmaz
coach: Abdullah Avci
ROMANIA (4-2-3-1): Tătărușanu – Tamaș, Chiricheș, Goian, Raț – Bourceanu, Pintilii – Torje, Stancu, Grozav – Marica
They played before: Alexandru Chipciu, Răzvan Cociș, Adrian Mutu
reserves: Pantilimon – Luchin, Găman, Gardoș, Dr. Grigore, Latovlevici, C. Lazăr, Al. Maxim, Ad. Pop
coach: Victor Pițurca
