Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Friday, March 27, 2026, 08:42 / Updated Friday, March 27, 2026 08:42
Turkey – Romania. After the national team lost the match in Istanbul, 0-1, in the play-off for the final summer tournament, Nicolae Stanciu (32 years old) took all the blame on himself, extremely disappointed that he missed what could have been his last chance to participate in a World Cup with the national team. MM Stoica and Mihai Pintilii appreciated his speech, for which they also have an explanation.
-
Turkey will play the play-off final with Kosovo, away, on March 31, 2026. Romania will face defeated Slovakia, in a friendly match, also on Tuesday
At the end of the match lost by the tricolors, Nicolae Stanciu, who entered the game and finished the game with the captain's armband on his arm, was seen extremely affected. The leader of the national team lost the starting team and his future is uncertain at the first representative, especially since he would be 36 years old at the next World Cup.
He also feels this pressure, and at the end of the match he gave the impression that he is the most affected of the tricolors. Although he played a little over 20 minutes and entered when the scoreboard was already 1-0 for the Turks, in the flash-interview Stanciu was extremely honest and, like a true leader, took all the blame on himself.
MM Stoica and Mihai Pintilii tried to “translate” Stanciu's statement
“The next campaign for the World Cup will be in 2 years. I am 32 years old, I don't know what will happen. I don't know if I was 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. In defeats, I am the first to take responsibility”said Stanciu, after the match. And his message was appreciated in the TV studio at Prima Sport on Thursday, close to midnight.
I think he assumed it. He wanted to come forward and take the blame on himself, to get the others out. Let the world stop talking about others, but talk about him
– Mihai Pintilii, former second coach at FCSB
He is very disappointed and here is a clear thing. Nicuşor Stanciu never came to the national team to make an appearance. No matter where he played, he came and played and struggled. The goal against Ukraine remains in the annals. Now, the poor man, he was also disappointed, he also had this bar… confused in his statements
– Mihai Stoica, FCSB CA president
The best images from the Turkey – Romania 1-0 draw
