Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Thursday, March 26, 2026 9:50 p.m. / Updated Thursday, March 26, 2026 11:47 p.m.
Turkey – Romania. The world dream of the “tricolors” was shattered on Thursday evening, in Istanbul, after the hosts prevailed at the limit, score 1-0, thanks to the goal scored by Kadioglu in the 53rd minute. At the end of the game, the selector Mircea Lucescu (80 years old) drew the first conclusions, although he did not want to stay very long in the interview, desperately looking for a goal to end the discussion.
The coach believes that it was a balanced match and that the error in the Turkish goal could have been avoided. Asked if this was his last match on the national team bench, the selector avoided giving an answer and left during the interview given on Prima TV.
Taken over immediately by the Digi Sport reporter, Lucescu did not want to answer the question this time either, being in a hurry.
Mircea Lucescu, conclusions after the failure with Turkey:
“Unfortunately we lost. It was a balanced game. They dominated possession more and we defended very well, very precisely. We waited for the moment when they weakened their defensive line, but it came late. We were also unlucky with that goal.
The mistake that led to the goal could have been avoided, knowing how we prepared this period. Things like this happen: a split second of inattention and you get a goal. I'm sorry. Turkey has a good team, they ran a lot. When I think that in our championship the players run 8-9 kilometers, it is clear that the results are in favor of those who make more effort.
Maybe you also watched the Turks, Çalhanoğlu told me that he learned the most from me. This is how players are raised to play for the national team for 10 years. I am satisfied that my work left something behind, but I was 10 times happier if my team won”, said Mircea Lucescu, on Prima TV.
Asked if he had fought to be at this tie and if this match was his last, the coach looked visibly upset.
“I didn't fight anyone or any problem. I came out of wanting to be here.” said Lucescu and left the interview.
After seeing the images of Lucescu leaving the interview, Gică Craioveanu reacted: “The reporter was very polite, he asked relevant questions. I don't know why Mircea got mad. She didn't get mad at them? She spent an hour hugging. Is she mad at a journalist who is doing his job?”.
After the missed preliminaries for WC 2026 qualification, Romania will play the next official match on September 25, 2026. This will be the date when the “tricolors” will debut in the Nations League group. The opponent will be Sweden, and the match will be played away.
VIDEO. Mircea Lucescu, press conference at the end of the failure in Istanbul
