“It's inadmissible, everything is disrupted”

• 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 will send the most important information, the best reports and a series of multimedia correspondence

He had a harsh speech to the goalkeeper Ionut Radu (28 years old), who confused the staff of the national team, after the injury suffered on Sunday evening, at Celta Vigo. Radu left the field with great problems, although he played for half an hour from the moment of the injury, he did a quick check-up in Spain and received the diagnosis of the tear.

Considered OUT for the dam with Turkey, Radu canceled his flight to Romania, also scheduled for Sunday evening, and decided to stay in Spain for further investigations. On Monday, after receiving the result of the MRI, he decided to come to Romania anyway, he urgently called Lucescu, who in the meantime had called Laurentiu Popescu directly from his vacation, and he arrived in Bucharest on Tuesday.

Victor Pițurcă criticized the way in which Ionuț Radu managed the situation before the dam with Turkey

Victor Pițurcă believes that Ionuț Radu managed the situation completely inadequately, that he should not have stayed in Spain and that, in the context in which he was called up, he should also have come to the team injured, to undergo medical tests in the country, and that the staff should be the ones to decide whether he plays or not.

“You can't do something like that, when you know what happened, it's not normal, it's inadmissible. You, as the goalkeeper selected for such an important match, when the meeting took place, you have to be in Mogoșoaia, at the lot. The medical staff takes you, they do X-rays, MRI, the staff decides.

Don't stay in Spain, because you're doing there, because you have a breakup, and then wait, I don't have it anymore. It's not good, everything is disrupted, the preparation for the game, it's not right. He is the most valuable of the goalkeepers, we suffer at the post, for this level, but I go by Mircea Lucescu's experience, let him choose the best, he knows what he has to do, I hope he will be inspired.

Now, Radu coming to the national team, being the most valuable, as a coach you analyze your options and come to this conclusion, that you put the most valuable, you overlook what happened. Either you don't call him at all, or you call him for match 2, goodbye. If he trains like everyone else, then the decision will be to enter the field”, said Victor Pițurcă, on the show “Fotbal Club”, from Digi Sport.

Victor Pițurcă believes in Romania's chances at this dam

Then asked about the match and the chances of the “tricolors” in this tie, Pițurcă is optimistic and believes that our team can overcome the Turkish national team, despite the difference in value.

“It's a football game, our chances are intact, just like the Turks', I don't see a strength in the Turkish team, a team that loses 6-0 to Spain. It will also have quite big minuses. Valoric is above us, it's clear, but we have our chance and we have to play it, I say the pressure is greater for the Turks.

If our team plays a good game, God willing we score first, the pressure will be even greater for the Turks, there will be discontent from the stands, that's how things are. Let's say that the Turks have better rated players, let that be their small advantage, but it will not be taken into account when they enter the field. With a tactic, with a good strategy we can, they have the better team, we have the better coach, or let's say more valuable, not to upset Montella.

Montella made a good impression on me that he came to our country to watch some matches, he does his job like a professional. Mircea Lucescu will find the best solutions, he had enough time to prepare the match, he knows every Turkish player, how they are as a team, as a group, he has put together a strategy that will give us a win at the end, that's important. Mircea Lucescu had health problems, he stayed in bed and thought, he worked out the strategy”, said Pițurcă.

Victor Pițurcă, in the GSP studio

Pițurcă: “Bîrligea physically gives absolutely everything”

Asked about the system and the “closer” Lucescu should bet on, Răzvan Marin or Vladimir Screciu, Pițurcă commented:

“I saw the dialogue between Ilie Dumitrescu and Florin Bratuit depends on the coach a lot, he knows what players the Turks have, how they play in midfield. I agree with Ilie, Screciu could also play, even right back, he could play central midfielder.

A good player, in shape, can play, if Mircea Lucescu will ask him 2-3 fixed things, he can do them without a problem, he has physical quality, he is an extremely strong player, he can fight with the opponent. It's a game where the group counts, not just one player, we have to pull together very quickly, otherwise we're in trouble. They have good players, we have to triple the area where their dangerous players are.

I can't say who I would play with, even now, I don't know the Turkish team, how they play. I had to see the opposing team 15-20 times, I had a board, I was thinking about the qualities of the players.

It's only one match and you have to be prepared to defend perfectly, to be attentive at every moment, to score a goal, two, to even reach extra time, penalties. One goal is not enough, as a coach you have to think about everything, have solutions. Bîrligea is the only striker, we don't have a number 9 striker, there is no problem with Miculescu.

I don't agree with Mihăila peak. I also moved him to Craiova on the left and it was important for him to play the whole area. Mihăilă has speed, but so do the Turks, you can't fool them with speed alone. Bîrligea can fight, they fight, physically they give absolutely everything, they keep the central defenders tight, that's what we need, of course”, Pițurcă added.