After the official training, Ionuț Radu decided! What will the Romanian goalkeeper do in the big match with Turkey

Ashley Davis26/03/2026

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Article by Daniel Scorpie, Alexandru Stanciu – Published Wednesday, March 25, 2026 7:28 p.m. / Updated Thursday, March 26, 2026 6:06 a.m.

IONUŢ I'm glad (28 years old) will be the starter in the goal of the national team of Romania in the draw with Turkeyclaim authorized sources of Gazeta Sporturilor. The goalkeeper of Celta Vigo still feels some pains, but they have improved compared to the previous days. He will force his presence in the first “11” of Mircea Lucescu (80 years old).

Turkey – Romania will be played on Thursday, March 26, from 19:00, match broadcast by Prima TV. If we win, we play the 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.

Initially called up by Mircea Lucescu for the tie with Turkey, Ionuț Radu did not show up for the reunion of the “tricolor” team after suffering an injury on Sunday, March 22, in the match lost by Celta Vigo at home against Alaves, score 3-4.

Ionuț Radu forces titularization in the Turkey-Romania dam

Then, the Romanian international decided to stay in Vigo for a thorough check-up. Meanwhile, Mircea Lucescu urgently summoned the goalkeeper of the University of Craiova, Laurentiu Popescu.

However, Ionuț Radu decided to take a risk and made the decision to come to Romania, to travel with the “tricolors” in Turkey.

On Wednesday, Ionuț Radu trained normally with the entire Romanian team, although he still complains of minor pains when he leaves the field. Authorized sources of Gazeta Sporturilur claim that Radu is 100% ready to risk and be a starter in the draw with Turkey: “He feels something, he is embarrassed when he pushes in the leg, but he will overcome any obstacle! He will defend tomorrow.”

Romania's lot for the dam with Turkey

porter: Ionuț RADU (Celta de Vigo | Spain, 7/0), Laurentiu POPESCU (Universitatea Craiova, 0/0), Marian AIOANI (FC Rapid 1923, 0/0), Cătălin CĂBUZ (FC Argeș, 0/0);
defense: Andrei RAȚIU (Rayo Vallecano | Spain, 36/2), Deian SORESCU (Gaziantep FK | Turkey, 23/0), Radu DRĂGUȘIN (Tottenham | England, 27/1), Andrei BURCĂ (Yunnan Yukun | China, 44/1), Virgil GHIȚ (Hannover 96 | Germany, 8/1), Adrian RUS (Universitatea Craiova, 22/1), Andrei COUBIȘ (Cluj University, 0/0), Nicușor BANCU (Craiova University, 50/2), Kevin CIUBOTARU (Hermannstadt, 1/0);
midfielders: Vladimir SCRECIU (Universitatea Craiova, 6/0), Vlad DRAGOMIR (Pafos | Cyprus, 5/0), Răzvan MARIN (AEK Athens | Greece, 72/12), Nicolae STANCIU (Dalian Yingbo | China, 84/15), Florin TĂNASE (FCSB, 26/5), Ianis HAGI (Alanyaspor | Turkey, 51/8), Dennis MAN (PSV | Netherlands, 43/11), Alexandru DOBRE (FC Rapid 1923, 5/0), Valentin MIHĂILĂ (Caykur Rizespor | Turkey, 33/5), Claudiu PETRILA (FC Rapid 1923, 2/0), Ștefan BAIARAM (Universitatea Craiova, 2/1);
ATTACKERS: Daniel BÎRLIGEA (FCSB, 7/2), David MICULESCU (FCSB, 6/0), Marius COMAN (UTA Arad, 0/0).