Cristian Tudor Popescu, a savory commentator, has become highly sought after by the sports press thanks to his analyzes on tennis. Whether you agree with him or not, CTP cannot leave you indifferent. And not just when they offer “X-rays“sports!
Cristian Tudor Popescu
Now, in a rare football analysis, the renowned journalist has dissected Euro 2024 for gsp.ro. This is also surprising for another reason. CTP gave up, in October 2023, its column in “Gazeta Sporturilor” after the departure of journalists who came into conflict with the Ringier trust. However, this detail did not prevent CTP from talking extensively with journalist Remus Dinu about the final tournament in Germany.
What did Cristian Tudor Popescu say for gsp.ro?
*About Romania – Belgium – Even losing to Belgium, Romania played bravely, at speed, played on the attack, on the counter. He didn’t try to barricade himself in his own box at any point, which is very important. I would like to see them play like that with Slovakia too!
*About Romania at Euro 2024 so far – It’s the first time after I don’t even know how many years that I enjoy watching the Romanian national football team play! Whether they won 3-0 or lost 0-2, these boys played football! This is the most important thing. There was a kind of clarification, clarification of the game of the Romanian national team. Also, an extremely important thing in my opinion – and that makes a big difference from what we were seeing before – is that it has increased the speed of play, the speed of combinations. Until now, the Romanian national team seemed static to me. Combinations were made at a low speed, with players standing on the field. Now they are produced at a significantly higher speed, which gives quality to the team’s game. I also note that the team with which Edi Iordănescu came to the European Championship is an attack-oriented one, which, again, is a gratifying thing. I have always believed that the goal of the game of football is the goal! Many times, this game is practiced to score goals, not to make, for example, ten consecutive 0-0 results.
*About Romania – Slovakia – In my opinion, we should play the same game as before. It would disappoint me a lot to see ours playing in a draw. Or, worse, in a draw, at 0-0. It is important what impression we leave here, first of all, I am very interested in this. What an impression we leave on Germany, that we are playing in Germany, what an impression we leave on everyone present here, on Ukraine… If Romania takes a step back now and tries to play petty, in the end, it is wrong, in my opinion! And I think the result can be achieved like this, playing as before, bravely. It is possible that at the end of the match we will have a tie result, but it will not result from a petty calculation, but from a real football game, as it has been until now.
*About the Romanian fans in Germany – Remarkable images (no – with the Romanian supporters). Sir, there have been some changes in a short time… As if miraculous! This is the term. I do not know what to believe. It seems that the quality of the supporters has also increased. I often did not like the supporters of our national team. They had manifestations that were sometimes quite difficult to bear. I also remember that something happened with “Kosovo e Serbia” at some point and other things like that. Now, these supporters seem to me to be of a different quality. It even frantically encourages, but positively, and I would say civilized the Romanian national team. No inappropriate accents like before. It’s impressive to see something like this! There has also been a change among the supporters. I don’t understand how! Also, the fact that Romanians came from all over the world to support the national team… Again, a first in my opinion. I have never seen anything like this in the history of the national team games and, in general, in the history of Romanian sports. Especially after crossing this “desert” for years and years… I have no explanation for these things.
*About Pro TV commentators – Do you want me to tell you one more change? Everything is changing and it’s miraculous… The comments of those on TV are no longer absurdly patriotic. I also wrote at one point, I don’t know what match anymore… The two commentators were playing a different match in their commentary than what was on the field. It seemed that we were playing extraordinary, that we were on high horses, that we were crushing the opponents. On the field, on the contrary, the opposite happened! They considered this to be a patriotic comment, as if those in the field had heard them and mobilized. Touching the absurd! Now, in the match with Belgium, I saw good comments… Of course, in favor of the national team, but emphasizing the positive aspects of our game and, at the same time, recognizing the sometimes clear, visible superiority of the Belgian team. Here is a gratifying progress! They had a realistic patriotic attitude, which is much more pleasant to listen to and look at than what I had heard before, for someone like me. I don’t have an explanation for all these overnight improvements, really.
“Adevărul” reporter Paul Cirican, a journalist with over two decades of experience, present at several major competitions over the years, will broadcast from Germany. From there, he will make reports and follow the progress of the tricolors in the final tournament.
When and where is Romania playing at Euro 2024, in group E
*June 17: ROMANIA – Ukraine 3-0 (Munich), Belgium – Slovakia 0-1 (Frankfurt)
*June 21: Slovakia – Ukraine 1-2 (Dusseldorf)
*June 22: Belgium – ROMANIA 2-0 (Koln)
*June 26: Slovakia – ROMANIA (Frankfurt, 19.00), Ukraine – Belgium (Stuttgart, 19.00)
The top two teams from each group, plus the best four third places from all six Euro 2024 groups, qualify for the round of 16.
Pro TV, Pro Arena and the VOYO platform broadcast the European Championship in Germany. The team of commentators will be made up of Cristian Pintea, Ion Alexandru, Mihai Dedu and Andrei Grecu.
Lot of Romania
*Goalkeepers: Niță (Gaziantep), H. Moldovan (Atletico Madrid), Târnovanu (FCSB)
*Backs: Rațiu (Rayo Vallecano), Mogoș (CFR Cluj), Drăgușin (Tottenham), Racovițan (Rakow), Rus (Pafos), Nedelcearu (Palermo), Burcă (Al-Okhdood), Bancu (Universitatea Craiova)
*Midfielders: Sorescu (Gaziantep), M. Marin (Pisa), Cicâldău (Konyaspor), R. Marin (Empoli), Stanciu (Damac), Șut (FCSB), Olaru (FCSB), Man (Parma), Mihăilă (Parma), I Hagi (Alaves), Coman (FCSB)
*Forwarders: Drăguș (Gaziantep), Pușcaș (Bari), Alibec (Muaither), Bîrligea (CFR Cluj)
