“We considered Arda, Yildiz and Calhanoglu all… Let's see where the qualification was really lost”
Article by Eduard Apostol – Published Friday, March 27, 2026, 5:40 p.m. / Updated Friday, March 27, 2026, 5:47 p.m.
Gică Mihali, 60 years old, the former defender of the national team from the American World Cup, declared himself disappointed by the failure Turkey – Romania (1-0) and the effects of defeat.
The day after Turkey – Romania, score 1-0, the time for reactions and conclusions. Officially, 28 years have passed since the last qualification of the “tricolors” at a World Cup. And the count continues.
Even more disappointing is the fact that the final tournament is played on American soil. Where, in 1994, the Romanian national team achieved its greatest performance, the quarter-finals. Plus the memorable developments with Colombia (3-1) and Argentina (3-2), the fantastic goals of the “tricolors” and millions of Romanians in the streets at home.
Gică Mihali, a bitter conclusion the day after Turkey – Romania: “I believed all of Guler, Yildiz and Calhanoglu. They were not to be scared at all!”
Gică Mihali lived those unrepeatable moments in America. The iron defender has dueled on the field with Asprilla, Rincon, Batistuta and Balbo, among others. The former defender had an intervention for GSP.ro in which he expressed his opinion about what he saw on TV in Turkey – Romania.
“What else are you asking me?! You have nothing to tell them that it wasn't thought out (the idea), just that there was that childish mistake in defense. The match could go to a 0-0, maybe to extra time and who knows…
The truth is that we were too scared, we said they were better than us. I considered all of them Arda Guler, Yildiz, Calhanoglu, and the Turks were not to be feared at all!
The goal that made the difference and sealed the end of the campaign was after an unforgivable mistake at this level. Don't pay attention, don't tighten that one, let it all be over… We'll wait another four years, let's see what happens”, Gică Mihali reacted to Gazeta Sporturilor.
31of selections has Mihali in the national team of Romania
Gică Mihali's anger, Romanians' anger: “We were also going to America again”
One of the dilemmas of the last hours was whether we should play with three stoppers in the defensive line and two extremes or in another mode of play.
“Don't ask me to give lessons, they are good coaches who know what and how. I watched the match as an ardent supporter. I'm upset… that we were also going to America again, here's the bathroom. So, we'll watch others, on TV. It was nice to see Romania again at the World Cup in America, it was heartwarming.
I liked some players, tactically, they looked good: Mihăilă, Man, Bancu, the central defenders, Bîrligea in front, disciplined, Ianis (Hagi) – who was criticized, but think that he was the only dangerous one with two occasions in the box”, said the former defender.
Gică Mihali, with number 14, at the match with Colombia from the 1994 World Championship
Gică Mihali's disappointment: “In the group of preliminaries we had, I should have finished 2nd at least, if not 1st”
Mircea Lucescu's mandate is coming to an end, Gică Hagi is expected to (re)come to the first representative team.
“It's not my problem! It's their business what will happen! Everyone is talking about the Istanbul match, but let's see what happened in the qualifying group.
Bosnia beat us twice and also took us 2nd place. We were lucky with those from FIFA that they also made play-off matches for the teams that finish (the group) in 3rd place.
In the group we were in, we had to finish at least in 2nd place. Or maybe even first, if we still beat the Austrians. The problem is what we did in groups or, rather, what we didn't do”, concluded Gică Mihali.
