Article by Ovidiu Ioanițoaia – Published on Thursday, 28 May 2026, 10:21 / Updated on Thursday, 28 May 2026 10:21
After the rather unsuccessful experience of 2001, when he missed the qualifying round at the World Cups in Japan and South Korea, Gică Hagi begins his second term as a selector through friendlies with Georgia (June 2, Tbilisi) and Wales (June 6, Bucharest). In view of which Hagi, aged 61, therefore mature as a coach, called no less than 31 players. Hence, logically, the trial character of this action. It can be appreciated that the new selector weighs. Sieve.
Comparing with the team of 23 summoned by the late Mircea Lucescu for the official match in Turkey, won by the hosts in Istanbul on March 26, the first observation is that, broadly speaking, Hagi called on the same footballers.
Compared to Lucescu's options, Hagi will no longer rely on Bîrligea (unavailable), Miculescu, Fl. Tănase, M. Coman and, I would say surprisingly, a decision disputed by some, nor on Laurentiu Popescu, the goalkeeper of the new champion. There are other conclusions to be drawn.
That, unfortunately, the pool of our valuable players, aspirants to the national team, is small and does not offer many options. But also that, forgetting about Bîrligea (forced), Miculescu and Fl. Tănase, all from FCSB, to bring to Mogoșoaia 7 people from Craiova (Bancu, Rus, Screciu, T. Băluță, Cicâldău, David Matei, Baiaram), Gică Hagi took into account the recent changes.
Which consisted in the regression of FCSB and in the rise of Craiova, formations represented accordingly also at the level of the “tricolors”. Naturally, between the former and the current champion, the selector preferred the current one. Football is currently played and judged the same.
The list of new items includes, in addition to Drăguș and Louis Munteanu, injured at the time of the play-off with Turkey, and 5 possible debutants. Three from home, Matei Ilie, Borza and David Matei, two from abroad, the “Polish” Otto Hindrich (Legia Warsaw) and the “Portuguese” Tony Strata (Vitoria Guimaraes). The “foreigners” seem, or even are, the big surprises of the “King”. It remains to be seen which of the five will survive when the group narrows down to 22-23 players.
Noting that the distance was not an impediment for Hagi, not at all impressed that Stanciu and Burcă come from China, and Louis Munteanu just from the United States, 8,000 km between Bucharest and Washington (where DC United is from)!, I would linger over the summons of Florinel Coman and Olimpiu Moruțan. Undoubtedly, very talented, with grace, but who, in my personal opinion, would not have deserved to be selected. Because they often stayed in debt and rarely convinced.
Agreed, both of them also had medical troubles. Although at Al Gharafa in Qatar, so not at who knows which team, Florinel was more of a reserve. In parallel, taken from Aris Thessaloniki and paid handsomely, Olimpiu did not seduce in the shirt of Rapid, ticking off a deleted season.
By reactivating Coman (20A) after 17 months, and Moruțan (17A) after 7, Hagi followed in the footsteps of his legendary mentor and predecessor, because Mircea Lucescu used to help the footballers he believed in by summoning them in critical situations, lacking achievements. If a selector is asked to be a good pedagogue, he must also be a friend to the players, attached to them, these are not empty words. And the true friend in need knows himself.
There would be another problem to discuss and on which the future of Gică Hagi on the national team bench will depend. Specifically, how he will know, without neglecting the condition of a parent, to manage the relationship with his son. Neither to wrong Ianis, but neither to favor him, to grant him a privileged status.
It is not a simple job, but on the contrary, a delicate one. But let's hope that the “King” will find the right measure and that this second mandate of his will be a success. Good luck!
