There have been voices claiming that Turkey is not the best possible opponent for Romania in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the other solutions being Italy, Denmark or Ukraine. The main game was played on March 26, away.
Răzvan Marin, left, was until recently a basic man in the lot
Footballer Răzvan Marin, 29 years old, registered at AEK Athens, said on Thursday, after the draw that decided that Romania would meet Turkey in the qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup, that the first representative team of our country has the hardest possible route, but that makes him even more ambitious.
“I watched the draw live. I think we have the hardest route possible, but that makes us even more ambitious! We know what we have to do and we have to approach this play-off with one thought, qualification! We must be at the World Cup next year“, said Răzvan Marin, according to the official website of the Romanian Football Federation. Marin is no longer in the good graces of Mircea Lucescu, with whom he had an exchange of words.
Another footballer blacklisted by the national team, former captain Nicolae Stanciu, 32, from Genoa, expects a tough match against Turkey, which will be played in an incredible atmosphere.
“I think any team that was in the first urn was strong and considered with the first chance to qualify. We only met Turkey in a friendly match played in Cluj-Napoca, in 2017, when we won 2-0, but since then the generations have changed, both for us and for them. I think it will be a very contested match, in an incredible atmosphere. I want us to be well, healthy and inspired at match time, to be able to move on. I don’t want to talk about a possible final because I’m only thinking about Turkey at the moment“, he stated
Central midfielder Marius Marin, from Pisa, hopes that the first national team will fulfill the dream of the Romanians to reach the World Cup. “A very difficult match, we are meeting a team with young and valuable players, but I have great confidence in our group and may God grant that we are in full form and that everyone is healthy so that we can fulfill the dream of every Romanian. Together towards the World Cup! We need public support, now or never to shape our own destiny! Come on, Romania!”mentioned Marius Marin, 27 years old,
For his part, Ianis Hagi (27 years old), registered in Turkey, at Alanyaspor, said that with the whole country behind him, the national team can reach the World Cup: “There are two finals, two matches that we can win. For me, the opponent and the place where we will play mattered too little. Together, with the whole country behind us, we are going full force towards the play-offs and I trust that we will see each other at the World Cup next summer“.
The Romanian national football team will meet Turkey, away, on March 26, in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, according to the draw made on Thursday in Zurich.
If they pass Turkey, a representative team that Romania’s coach, Mircea Lucescu, previously prepared, the tricolors will also play away from home in the final of the pool, with the winner between Slovakia and Kosovo, on March 31.
Turkey finished second in the group, after Spain, with whom they drew (2-2) in the last match. Turkey’s only defeat this campaign came at home, right in front of the European champions, with an improbable 0-6. The group also included Georgia and Bulgaria.
