Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Friday, 27 March 2026, 00:21 / Updated Friday, 27 March 2026 00:25
Turkey – Romania 1-0. Nicolae Stanciu, the footballer who missed a great opportunity in the duel in Istanbul, commented on the match that canceled the dream of the “tricolors” to go to the World Championship in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Distraught, Nicolae Stanciu conveyed the fact that he is disappointed with the performance and refused to talk about his future at the national team.
What's next for Romania after losing to Turkey in Istanbul
“There is not much to say. The qualification was lost. I have nothing more to say. It is quite difficult to watch a game from the sidelines. I had more emotions than those on the field. It was a difficult game. We knew that we were going to have a difficult game. We did not rise to the level of the match or the Turks were better than us, let's say the right one.
I have lost more and I have nothing to tell you. I thought that ball was going in. I was sure. It was not to be, we lost and we are sorry for ourselves and our country. Another World Cup goes by and Romania is not there.
There were many points that were lost. All in all, I had another chance now. We didn't succeed, so there's no point in talking about the qualification campaign,” said Stanciu, at Prima Sport.
Asked if he will still be in the team for the next World Cup qualification campaign, Stanciu answered sadly: “The next campaign for the World Cup will be in 2 years. I'm 32 years old, I don't know what will happen.”
He had the same disappointed tone when the captain's armband, worn in Istanbul by Ianis Hagi, was brought up: “I don't know if I'm a former captain or a current captain, I don't know what I am anymore. I always came willing to give everything. I never put myself first. I always put the team. I always took responsibility for my failures. That's right, I'm the first to set an example. At the victory, the whole team is congratulated. When I lose, I'm the first to take it. It's a big disappointment. In 10 years, we have not succeeded, with different generations, in qualifying for a World Championship”.
Stanciu was introduced in the 71st minute, instead of Ianis Hagi.
Nicușor Stanciu never came to the national team to perform. Now, he was also disappointed. He was confused in his statements. It is not his fault!
– Mihai Stoica, at Prima Sport
What's next for Romania after missing the dream of the World Championship
After the match in Istanbul, the “tricolor” players will not return to the club teams, but will remain in the squad to play one more match. UEFA requested that the national teams that lose the playoffs play friendly matches, so Romania will play on Tuesday, March 31, with Slovakia.
