Article by Maria Olteanu – Published on Tuesday, 31 March 2026 23:59 / Updated on Wednesday, 01 April 2026 00:01
Slovakia – Romania. Immediately after the failure in Bratislava, the great former Romanian international Gică Popescu (58 years old) analyzed the game of the “tricolors”, explaining why he felt that the players wanted this match to end more and more, but also what he considers to be the main danger after missing another World Cup.
The first representative continues to extend the series of years without a qualification for the World Cup, after losing the semi-final against Turkey, and Gică Popescu believes that the intermediate European qualifications cannot be compared with a qualification for the World Cup.
Also, the poor results of the first national team can be dangerous in the future, in the context in which people will start to get used to a mediocre Romanian national team, which no longer causes problems and will be treated without respect.
Gică Popescu, after the failure in Slovakia: “Tomorrow we will not remember this match”
“It was a friendly match. I saw both teams playing casually, they weren't focused only on not conceding a goal. They both attacked when they had the ball. Unfortunately, we conceded two own goals: Bîrligea and then Aioani's blunder, which I consider half an own goal. A match without history, with many changes.
I had the impression that each team wanted to pass the time, without pressure, without stakes. I am convinced that tomorrow we will not remember this match. It did not arouse emotions or interest. The players played casually, and my feeling was that everyone wants to finish faster, to go to the club team, to finish these four days.
It is a generation that reached around the age of 26-28. It is said that this is the optimal age to perform, they are mature but lack the confidence, that click that the generation needs. I was saying that after Euro 2024, the singular performance should not remain, it should be crowned with the qualification for the World Cup.
The world will relate to the failure to qualify for the World Cup. We wanted the qualification, we have been missing for 28 years. I have been to three Europeans in the meantime, they are important, but different from a World Cup.
The most dangerous thing is that the world is starting to get used to us as an unpretentious team. This means disrespect, people lose respect”said Gică Popescu, after the match, on Antena 1.
The best images from Slovakia – Romania
