Article by Robert Vîrdol – Published Friday, June 12, 2026, 10:41 p.m. / Updated Friday, June 12, 2026, 10:42 p.m.
Dănuț Lupu (59 years old) does not believe that the selector Gică Hagi (61 years old) will succeed in building a young and performing national team.
The Romanian national team entered a new era. Gică Hagi debuted in the new term with a draw away to Georgia, score 1-1. The first victory followed, 2-1 against the national team from Wales.
Dănuț Lupu: “If he hasn't released a footballer in such a long time, there is a problem”
In a dialogue with Gazeta Sporturilor, Dănuț Lupu spoke about the promotion of young people in Romania. He also brought up Gică Hagi.
Former international Dănuț Lupu
“Gică Hagi gave confidence to the Romanian players, but in 15 years he did not produce a footballer. There is a problem in the selection, in the academies, somewhere there is a problem. If he has not produced a footballer in such a long time, there is a problem. He cared about him, he gathered the best kids, he didn't produce any footballers, it's his fault. He also made a mistake somewhere at the academy!
I think it is more difficult in the national team than in the academy. There he had time every day to talk with them and train them. At the national team, he will talk to them three days out of four, it's difficult”, said Dănuț Lupu for Gazeta Sporturilor.
Prophecy fulfilled: the “skeleton” of the national team, made up of Hagi Academy players
The match that marked the return of Gică Hagi to the national team after 25 years, draw 1-1 with Georgia, it was the opportunity to line up a team that included many of the “children” with whom he once worked at Farul / Viitorul and who received “baptism” at the Academy that bears his name.
- Virgil Ghiță, Andrei Borza, Răzvan Marin, Ianis Hagi and Florinel Coman started the game as starters.
- From the bench, three other footballers who carry the certificate of the Hagi Academy appeared: Louis Munteanu, Tudor Băluță and Alexandru Cicâldău.
- It should be mentioned that not all of the mentioned footballers actually started their junior years in the Hagi Academy: Ghiță and Florin Tănase were recruited from Pitesti, Louis Munteanu from Vaslui, Drăguș from Bucharest, Tudor Băluță from Craiova, etc.
