With Şucu jr. tenured in the first selection, Romania U18 was pulverized in Lanžhot

The game took place in the town of Lanžhot, in the Czech Republic, and Ion Marin's students had no chance. In the starting team of Romania was also Andrei Șucu (17 years old), the son of the financier from Rapid, Dan Șucu, in his very first selection. The midfielder performed until the break.

The small tricolors can get their revenge after this failure in just three days, when they also play the second friendly test against the same team in the Czech Republic on Saturday, June 6, from 12:00, Romanian time.

The students trained by Ion Marin play these tests as part of the preparation before the second round of the preliminaries for the European U19 Championship 2027, which will take place in the Czech Republic.

Romania U18, failure in the first friendly with Czech Republic U18

In Wednesday's match, the hosts opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, through Dominik Zajac. At the end of the first half, Andrei Șucu missed the equalizing goal. He volleyed a cross from Țaroi, but the goalkeeper Adam Bitta spectacularly intervened on the goal line, noted the website of the Czech Federation.

At the break, they entered with a minimal lead, but in the second part of the confrontation, the Czechs broke away.

Sparta Prague's 18-year-old midfielder Maxim Kotisek extended the gap in the 50th minute from a free kick, while forward Martin Zeman set up the final score in the 72nd minute after he was alert and recovered a deflected ball in front of the Romanian goalkeeper.

In addition to Andrei Șucu, who played 45 minutes in this match, defenders Raul Alecsandroaie (FCSB) and David Todoran (Rapid) also played in the tricolor U18 team on Wednesday, among others.

Romania U18 team in the friendly with Czech Republic U18:

• Mocan – Gheorghe, Badarau (Cojocariu 82), Moisa (Bordea 63), Todoran (Alecsandroaie 63) – Coman (Vulpe 46) – Luncașu (Drăghici 46), Țucu (Batzula 46), Țăroi (Amarandei 63) – Roateș (David 63), Bota (Butu 63).

This clear 3-0 defeat comes a year and four days after the previous head-to-head meeting, when the Czech Republic U18 prevailed 3-2.

The current U18 generation could go to the European U19 next year

Romania's current U18 generation is the one that will become U19 next season and will play in the 2nd round of the UEFA EURO U19 2027 preliminaries from autumn.

The opponents in the 2nd qualifying round, as well as the venue of the matches, will be determined at the draw scheduled for June 15.

• Romania U18 ended the group from the 1st preliminary round undefeated. The “Tricolori” defeated Andorra (3-1) and Leichtenstein (11-0) and drew with Denmark (2-2), obtaining promotion in League A to the European U19 Championship;

• Currently, the European qualifiers consist of three qualification rounds: Round 1 (Spring 2026), Round 2 (Autumn 2026) and Round 3 (Spring 2027);

• The final European U19 tournament will take place next summer in the Czech Republic.

The Romania U18 squad for the friendly action in June

• GOALKEEPERS: Arsenie MOCAN (FC Bihor), Luca CRĂCIUN (FC Argeș);

• DEFENDERS: Costyn GHEORGHE (Farul Constanța), Mario BORDEA (FC Bacău), Fabio BĂDĂRĂU (Sampdoria | Italy), Raul COJOCARIU (Atalanta | Italy), Davide MOISĂ (Hellas Verona | Italy), Raul ALECSANDROAIE (FCSB), David TODORAN (Rapid);

• INTERMEDIARIES: Daniele LUNCAȘU (FC Bacău), Hunor BATZULA (Sepsi Sf. Gheorghe), Rareș COMAN (US Sassuolo | Italy), Ianis VULPE (Paços de Ferreira | Portugal), Robert DRĂGHICI (FC Augsburg | Germany), Andrei ȘUCU (Rapid), Ștefan AMARANDEI (Sampdoria | Italy), Denis TĂROI (UTA Arad);

• ATTACKERS: Mario DAVID (US Sassuolo | Italy), Alexandru BOTA (FC Botoșani), Andrei ROATEȘ (Levante | Spain), Alexandru BUȚU (CSC Dumbrăvița).