Article by Maria Olteanu – Published on Sunday, 07 June 2026, 08:32 / Updated on Sunday, 07 June 2026 08:44
The former international great Basarab Panduru (55 years old) put under his magnifying glass the first two matches of the Romanian national team under the management of Gică Hagi (61 years old) and appreciated the courage shown by the tricolors especially after the equalizing goal of the representative from Wales.
With Hagi at the helm, in his second term, Romania drew 1-1 in Tbilisi, with Georgia, and won at home, score 2-1, with Wales.
In Saturday's duel, in Ghencea, the tricolors also had a goal disallowed, perfectly valid, signed by Louis Munteanu, but in which the assistant intervened badly. And, as there was no VAR camera, the decision on the field stood.
At the end of Saturday's match, Panduru analyzed what happened and emphasized in particular the courage, the attitude shown in the last half hour, after the 1-1 goal of the opponents. Even so, he believes that, for morale, in the short term, success helps us, but that there is still some time until September, when the games that matter start.
Basarab Panduru's reaction after the success with Wales
“A nice victory. Where we catch them, we beat them. It's good. Let's not forget that it's a friendly match. At the moment, it helps our morale. But it's a while until September.
The important thing is that tonight we saw good things. This is the most important thing. Well done for the win.
I hope that the King will draw the right conclusions, make his squad for the four matches in the fall. Well done, congratulations on the win.
I had courage. After the 1-1 goal, I thought something bad could happen, but we looked good. I reacted very well”, Basarab Panduru said after the match, on Prima TV.
I say that the most important and good thing is that it has been seen that it can be done. We have taken 30 players, we have and it will be difficult for us to choose in September. We have 3 months to look at them, hopefully we will be inspired. We still have a lot of work to do, we are at the beginning.
– Gică Hagi, Romania selector
