Article by Eduard Apostol – Published on Saturday, 06 June 2026 23:21 / Updated on Sunday, 07 June 2026 00:59
Romania defeated Wales, score 2-1a pre-holiday friendly that gives us some optimism for what's to come. As dedication, as a spirit of sacrifice, with a chance, with attitude, outside of beautiful goals and attacking phases that allow us to think that the sun could come out for us too. Here are the highlights of the last game of the season!
Gică Hagi returned after a quarter of a century to Ghencea, to the new Ghencea in fact. Our dreams to play in a new World Cup have remained in the mud of the old arena, even if optimism drips on all communication channels with the “King” as the “savior of the nation”.
Auspicious return of the coach. Romania defeated Wales, score 2-1, maybe we should always play with this opponent the strong, decisive matches! It was just a friendly, we try to keep our cool, but also hope. We'll see from autumn on what will happen with Sweden, with Poland, with Bosnia, in the League of Nations. Then we will see which one, now it was test. Here are the GSP notes!
GSP notes for Romanian players: Let's see the pluses, because we've had enough of the minuses!
– Hindrich (note 6) * Started with confidence and was able to block from the angle, one on one, with Johnson. He had a commendable performance as he exuded confidence in every phase.
– Sorescu (grade 6) * He tried to put his speed into action at the start of the game. Offensively he offered more than defensively.
– Burka (note 6) * Not much was seen, but considering that the guests had many incursions and phases in our square, and Romania did not score a goal… It means that it did its job.
– M. Elijah (note 6) * He was OK, he didn't lose his temper and was in the match.
– Eissat (note 6) * Very active in the first part, especially since he had work on his side. He didn't have an easy life with Johnson (Crystal Palace). He broke through in many moments, even if Gică Hagi kept his mouth on him.
– Stanciu (grade 6) * He had a good first half, in which he was involved, he led the game well. And he had a free-kick that would have resulted in a wonderful goal, only the ball went agonizingly close to the post.
– T. Baluta (note 6) * In his usual note from the new champion of Romania.
– Dragomir (note 6) * Active at the start of the game, trying to order the play of the tricolors. He was an integralist.
– Potter (grade 7) * He tried to provide useful balls to those in front, he read Louis Munteanu well for what could have been the opening score. He made up for it in the second half, when he provided an assist for Florinel Coman. Plus the title, unofficially, of our most fouled man.
– L. Munteanu (grade 7) * Definitely the man of the first half. He had some spectacular forays, he wanted to stand out, to impress. He scored an extraordinary goal, disallowed in front of the Rossland linesman. He had another restart that could materialize, only the Welsh goalkeeper guessed his intentions.
– Baiaram (grade 5) * He tried, but not much came of it. Two more actions, but that's it.
Selector Gică Hagi (grade 7) * He behaved like an official match. The first 11 moved, the changes gave more energy. It must be taken into account that it was a friendly before the holiday. But the players were not left to think about vacations.
They have also played:
– Târnovanu (note 6) * Entered in the 46th minute instead of Hindrich. He had a lot of work. And he pulled off an impressive double.
– Fl. Coman (note 7) * Entered in the 46th minute instead of Baiaram. It had an immediate impact. Greeted by cheers from the supporters, the seven-man of the national team opened the scoring with a precise shot from the box, after attempting another goal from a free kick. Very incisive in front of goal and in the last 20-30 meters.
– Stock market (grade 6) * Entered in the 46th minute instead of Eissat. He showed little, but contributed to the phase that led to the opening of the scoring.
– Strata (grade 6) * Entered in the 46th minute instead of Sorescu. OK.
– Ad. Rus (grade 8) * Entered in the 46th minute instead of Burcă. Superb headed goal after a corner. Plus another great opportunity. He did his 10th grade job in defense, saving a goal that would have made it 2-2. Amazing how it came out of nowhere and stuck
– Cîrjan (grade 5) * Came on in the 64th minute instead of Olaru. He didn't have many actions to assert himself.
– Coubiș (grade 6) * Entered the 64th minute instead of M. Ilie. He did his job.
– Drăguș (grade 5) * Entered in the 64th minute instead of L. Munteanu. A shot to the short corner. At least from that phase came the corner from which Rus scored the winning goal.
– M. Popescu (grade 6) * Came on in the 64th minute instead of T. Băluță. He pulled out at a critical moment, where he himself made a mistake in the first phase. OK, all in all.
– D. Matei (grade 7) * Came on in the 70th minute instead of Stanciu. Good for the kid, with an assist, with a shot that hit the crossbar.
Wales: Fighters but we knocked them down. Again
– Ward (grade 6) * The best man of the Welsh during the match. He had a lot of work. He scored goals, he was also lucky with the crossbar, but he also scored a lot!
– Andrews (note 6) * Worker.
– Rodon (note 6) * OK.
– Norrington-Davies (grade 5) * Overtaken in a few lines.
– N. Williams (grade 6) * Decent.
– Sheehan (grade 5) * It could be even better.
– Ampadu (grade 6) * High effort capacity.
– Broadhead (grade 5) * The batteries died after a while.
– D. James (grade 6) * The Leeds winger showcased his technique and speed, both at a premium.
– Moore (grade 5) * Weak.
– Johnson (grade 6) * High quality.
Selector Craig Bellamy (grade 6) * Friendly, friendly, but the game had nerve and the Welsh did not give up. They fought back at 0-1, equalized and were about to score the 2nd goal. The equalizer was one step away, but Adi Rus intervened impressively.
They have also played:
– Roberts (grade 6) * Came on in the 61st minute in place of Norrington-Davis.
– Koumas (grade 6) * Came on in the 61st minute instead of Moore.
– Brooks (grade 7) * Came on in the 61st minute for Broadhead. Nice goal.
– Congreve (grade 5) * Came on in the 71st minute instead of Johnson.
– Mepham (grade 5) * Came on in the 71st minute for Andrews.
– S. Thomas (grade 5) * Came on in the 71st minute instead of D. James.
– Kpakio * Entered in the 88th minute instead of N. Williams.
Umpire: Rohit Saggi (mark 7) * OK.
Assistants: Anders Olav Dale (note 7) * OK.
Alf Olav Rossland (grade 5) * Only he saw offside for Louis Munteanu's spectacular goal in the first half. TV replays did not show why the northerner raised the flag.
