Costin Curelea, the coach of Romania’s U21 team, shared his thoughts following a disappointing 0-2 defeat against Finland. This result, recorded in Târgoviște, eliminated any chance for Romania to qualify for the UEFA European Championship in 2027.
Curelea expressed confidence in the future of the young team, although he could not hide his disappointment over the match’s outcome. He noted that the absence of several key players significantly impacted the team’s performance.
Looking Ahead: Curelea’s Plans for the Future
“I can only encourage the players. We’ve lost our chance to qualify, but we remain hopeful for what comes next. Many players, around 12 from this squad, are eligible for the next campaign,” Curelea stated.
He acknowledged the challenges presented by missing seven to eight key players, stating, “It’s tough to compete when your squad is depleted. Our opponents play at a much higher level than Liga 1 in Romania.”
Curelea emphasized the need to explore different strategies and prepare more thoroughly for future competitions. He expressed a desire for the next generation of players to be stronger and more confident, citing psychological moments in the match that could have changed the outcome.
“I can’t blame them; it was clear there was a gap between us and them. We had to bring in 12 new players, which makes it hard to talk about a cohesive generation. We will do our best to improve; the players have always given their all. Many lack match experience, and the difference in rhythm and intensity was evident tonight,” he added.
Curelea concluded by describing the situation as disappointing but not necessarily a failure, stating, “When you draw Spain in your group, it significantly diminishes your hopes for first place. Unfortunately, the Finnish and Nordic teams are catching up quickly; they are well-prepared and have raised their level significantly,” according to sport.ro.
