Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 2:41 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 2:42 p.m.
The showdown between Turkey and Romania is approaching and opinions about the national team's chances of qualification continue to emerge. Adrian Ilie (51 years old), the former Romanian international, spoke about the chances that Romania prevails in the duel in Istanbul, on March 26.
“Cobra” believes that both teams have equal chances to qualify, and the national team has an advantage thanks to Mircea Lucescu, a former coach in Turkey, and also to the players who play in the Turkish championship.
Adrian Ilie: “If we reach the World Championship, I think we will win the group”
Adrian Ilie spoke about the tie that the national team will play in March, against Turkey. The game in Istanbul promises to be a very difficult one, given the value of the Turkish players. “Cobra” believes that Romania has an advantage through the presence of Mircea Lucescu on the bench of the national team. He was a coach at Galatasaray and Besiktas, but also at the Turkish national team.
The former striker also relies on the experience of the Romanian players playing in the Turkish championship.
“In play-off matches or duels when there is only one match, a final, anything can happen. I think the Turks also have pressure from the public. They also want to qualify for the World Cup, but we also want to. I think the chances are 50-50 and it depends on the form that day.
There were problems with them and they didn't qualify precisely because of this, that the supporters put pressure on them. Mircea Lucescu knows them very well, so we have an advantage. There are also Romanian players who are part of the national team and play in Turkey, so we have an advantage. If we reach the World Championship, I think we will win the group“, said Adrian Ilie, according to AS.ro.
Adrian Ilie is a connoisseur of Turkish football, having played for Galatasaray (38 matches and 17 goals) and Besiktas (16 matches and 6 goals).
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On March 26, Romania will play the semi-final of the 2026 World Championship qualifiers in Istanbul against Turkey
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If it prevails in this duel, Romania will play the play-off final on the field of the winner between Slovakia and Kosovo
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If they win both matches, the national team will go to the final tournament, where they will play in a group with the United States of America, Australia and Paraguay
