Article by Ovidiu Ioanițoaia – Published on Sunday, 07 June 2026, 15:08 / Updated on Sunday, 07 June 2026 15:08
Before analyzing the friendly with Wales, I note that I expected that match, the first played at home by the national team after the death of Mircea Lucescu (on April 7), to be preceded by a moment of silence.
How UEFA proceeded with important UCL matches, such as Barcelona – Atletico Madrid or PSG – Liverpool. There is no doubt that the memory of the legendary coach, among the most famous in the history of the round ball, deserved a brief evocation. A scenography, a reminder.
Unfortunately, though it was her duty, The FRF did not see fit to organize anything. And if her attitude is excusable, because life goes on even without Mircea Lucescu, it would have been necessary to at least hold a minute of silence in memory of the illustrious technician.
Let us not hope that others will value our values and contributions if, before them, we do not value them ourselves and give evidence of this.
Otherwise, returning to the duel with Wales on Ghencea, the “tricolors” won it 2-1, but they could have won it even more clearly. However, in the absence of VAR, the referee brigade in Norway canceled Louis Munteanu's perfectly valid (and spectacular) goal. Just as he did not penalize the foul committed by Broadhead in the box, when the scoreboard indicated 1-0 for Romania.
Having played only a test match, even if against an opponent ranked higher in the FIFA hierarchy (Wales 37, Romania 56), it passes from us. There's no point in making a case out of it. Rather, let's record that, except for about 20 minutes of the second half, Stanciu et Co controlled the hostilities and, in general, left a nice impression.
Despite the fact that Hagi continued his trial, changing again, like 3 days earlier in Tbilisi, 10 players! This is how, chronologically, Strata (debut), Rus, Târnovanu, Fl. Coman, Borza, Drăguș, Mihai Popescu, Coubiș, Cîrjan and David Matei entered the field. Sure, some presented themselves better, others less so, but none disappointed.
Together they demonstrated, in the words of the selector, that “it is possible”. That our national team has the resources, talent and ambition to achieve results and qualifications beyond those achieved so far. I repeat what I have written before, that the road to performance is long and strewn with obstacles.
Hagi, however, seems to believe that it can be completed and invites us to believe as well. Let's not remain prisoners of the idea that we don't have enough grace or enough will to compare ourselves to the powerful. At least let's try.
Concretely, among his arguments, the way Fl. Coman scored for 1-0 from the top position (bet won by Hagi?) after the ball circulated like a playstation on the route Rus – Borza – Olaru – Fl. Coman, a lethal phase for the British.
Or, other arguments, the talent and enthusiasm of the 19-year-old David Matei, who came out, together with Louis Munteanu, the strongest in the record. The author of a shot on the crossbar and the assist from which the Russian scored the winning goal.
Saturday night's result and the performance of the “tricolors”, a thought-out and orderly game, inclined towards the offensive, not towards an alibi, came to confirm the opinion of those, including the undersigned, that the national team is making slight progress. On the rise. That it starts to gather, to come together, without that meaning, God forbid!, that Hagi can declare himself satisfied.
That the team is able to take on the big powers, to fight them on an equal footing. No word at the moment, but the signs are encouraging.
Defeating Wales, even in a convincing manner, because the score difference could have been more conclusive, Gică Hagi silenced those who, frustrated, inept or both, protested his appointment or, downright stupid, asked him to resign since the first match! They forgot that until the recent 1-1 draw in Tbilisi, Georgia beat us in 2021 right in Ploiesti!
With this 2-1 from Steaua, Gică Hagi won a match, correctly, a friendly one, which moved Romania to 53rd place in FIFA, but more than that. He won the trust of those who really love the national team and want the best for him.
