Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Thursday, 26 March 2026, 23:30 / Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2026 23:30
Turkey – Romania 1-0. Marius Șumudică (55 years old), former coach in Turkey, criticized the right defender Andrei Ratiu (27 years) for the evolution of Istanbul.
In his view, the footballer had no attitude and did not add anything to the play-off match. Recently dismissed from Saudi Arabia, the coach also criticized the strategy of the selector Mircea Lucescu (80 years old).
Marius Șumudică, conclusions after Turkey – Romania 1-0: “Why didn't we risk with two strikers?”
Şumudică argues that the changes should have been made much earlier and that Romania needed to play much more offensively, with two spikes, to be able to get something out of the match in Istanbul.
He would also have liked a system with three central defenders, being convinced that Romania would not have conceded that goal in the 53rd minute.
“It was better to play with 3 central defenders. With Rațiu and Bancu above, who have offensive valences. I do the offensive phase better than the defensive phase. And then you had more solutions and game angles.
Reason? For me, ZERO! From my point of view ZERO! It didn't help the national team at all. Lack of attitude, of responsibility. I didn't understand why I didn't risk more. Why didn't we take a chance with two strikers.
I made changes post by post. Why does Bîrligea come out in the 87th minute, when we were obliged to score? Unfortunately, Şumudica was right. I wanted it to come out the other way around, it was not possible.
When you defend with Man and Mihăilă down and make 6 at the bottom line, it is very difficult for you to get up. The problem is that I looked bad. I saw a Turkey all the time in control of the game. They made 500 or so passes and you made 250. Half as many as them. You automatically withdrew and preferred this thing.
I prefer to play in 3 central defenders, as long as in the club team they play in 3 central defenders and Drăgușin and Ghiță and Bancu and Screciu. Never in 3 new central defenders did we have problems with that goal.
We could develop better, we were climbing with Bancu and Rațiu, who today was disappointing. Very relaxed, he has a phase when he wants to kick between the legs. A total lack of responsibility at Ratiu, of attitude, for me today left much to be desired”, said Şumudică, for fanatik.ro.
You can't play a play-off, a final and have that kind of attitude. You can't come from LaLiga, let it be said that Barcelona wanted you and come with such an attitude. The lack of attitude, I'm talking about Rațiu, was something indescribable.
– Marius Sumudicaafter Turkey – Romania 1-0
PHOTO GALLERY. Images from the end of the Turkey – Romania dam
