Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Thursday, June 11, 2026 11:33 p.m. / Updated Thursday, June 11, 2026 11:34 p.m.
Gică Craioveanu (58 years old), former Romanian international, was completely disappointed by what he saw in South Africa's game in the match with Mexicothe debut match of the World Cup.
The comment made by Gică Craioveanu came at the break of the match, when Mexico was leading with the score of 1-0, after the successful goal of Quinones in the 9th minute.
Gică Craioveanu, at the break of the match: “It's something bad that South Africa is playing”
It seemed to Gică Craioveanu that South Africa is a team for this level. The legend of Craiova was even amused by the first counterattack carried out by Hugo Broos' team.
“It's 1-0 and thank you! It's bad how South Africa are playing! I didn't expect it, honestly. It's a modest team and I'm gentle. The first counterattack of the Africans was horrifying, he got scared and fell.
They have adaptation problems, but with the ball. The ball is a player's friend, for Africans it is the enemy. Mexico is a good team, but I think Mister pulled them back after the goal, Simeone style, we score and retreat. When you are 1-0 and you feel the opponent is modest, you have to take us over him and score the second goal”, said Gică Craioveanu, according to digisport.ro.
Ilie Dumitrescu also commented on what he saw in the first half of the match: “It's a clear plus in the game of the Mexicans, because they have quality. At the moment when Jimenez will also enter his role… It was a good cross, he attacked the space well, but he didn't manage to touch it. I think Mexico will prevail, it's a fairly easy match for Mexico.”
