Football: Radu Dragusin - With Türkiye we must prove that we deserve to go to the World Cup
AGERPRES special correspondent Adrian Tone reports: Defender Radu Dragusin stated in a Wednesday's press conference, that Romania must prove that it deserves to qualify for the World Cup in the play-off with Türkiye, which will be decided by the details and not by the value of the two teams.
'We see it as a decisive match, for sure. A match in which we must prove that we deserve to go to the World Cup and we will show that on the field. Of course we believe in qualifying, if we didn't believe we wouldn't be here. The atmosphere in the team is good, it is positive, confident, but it is not enough. We prepared this match very well and the details will make the difference, we are ready for tomorrow and we must show that we deserve to go to the World Cup', Dragusin said.
The Tottenham player says Romania is ready to face the hostility of the public at Besiktas' stadium in Istanbul.
'The public will definitely be very 'warm' tomorrow. We also played with the club team in Türkiye. Here we expect a hostile environment, but there is nothing we cannot overcome and apply our plan tomorrow. The support we have from the fans matters a lot, even if we are not playing at home. They make us feel like we are at home. And we always feel them on the pitch, we feel when they push us from behind, when they sing for us and we believe that together we can achieve important things', he added.
As to his situation at the club team, where he has not played much since last year's injury, Dragusin said that he has no connection with the Romanian national team: 'The situation at the club has no connection with what is happening at the national team. I am fine'.
'The arrival of Ionut Radu is important, he is a very important player, he has excellent performances in La Liga and his presence will be a plus. But at the national team, the group and the atmosphere are very important, because that has allowed us to do important things for Romania. It is important that when one or the other is not present, the one who comes to his position does his job', the Romanian defender also said.
The Romanian national football team will meet Türkiye on Thursday in Istanbul at 7:00 p.m. in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup play-off. Depending on the results of the semifinals of the play-off, on March 31 at 9:45 p.m., the national team coached by Mircea Lucescu will play in Slovakia or Kosovo. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Tenea; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – marketing@agerpres.ro.
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
President Dan: U.S. support for Romania was essential in many crossroads moments
The support of the United States of America for Romania was essential in many crossroads moments, President Nicusor Dan said on Thursday, when participated in the opening at the National Museum of History of Romania of the exhibition 'USA-Romania. History, diplomacy and the road to democracy.' The exhibition is dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the
NadiaYear/'Europe Cup', medals, photographs and documents - in exhibition dedicated to Nadia, opened at National Archives
The 'Europe Cup', which was awarded to Nadia Comaneci in 1979, after she won the European Championships three times, in 1975, 1977 and 1979, medals, such as the famous communist distinction 'Sickle and Hammer', awarded after winning the title of 'Hero of Socialist Labor', photographs and documents, some from the the National Council for the Study of S
Romania demonstrates it can correct imbalances even in severe international context (FinMin Nazare)
Romania has demonstrated that it can correct its imbalances even in a severe international context, but political instability directly affects confidence and risk perception in the country, warns interim Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare. He stated on Thursday, after a meeting with representatives of the financial rating agency Moody's, that the coming wee
Cristina Chiriac (CONAF): Romania grew driven by consumption and transfers; in 2026, both came to a halt
Romania's convergence has been built on consumption and transfers—wages rising faster than productivity, European funds supplementing domestic investment, and a fiscally fueled domestic market—yet what has not been built is the foundation: the employment base, industrial capacity, and an active demographic, according to CONAF President Cristina Chiriac.
NadiaYear/Nadia Comaneci, in Slatina: You don't have to be born in a specific place to be the best
Former great gymnast Nadia Comaneci, the first sportswoman in history to score a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games, told children present at an event organized at the Alro Slatina stadium on Thursday that performance does not depend on where you are born, but on work, perseverance and courage, emphasizing that 'you don't have to be born in a specific place to be the be
AUR Senator Peiu: President Dan conceals public spending without having such constitutional authority
Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) Senate floor leader Petrisor Peiu criticised President Nicusor Dan for what he called the head of the state's 'refusal' to disclose the value of Romania's financial assistance to Ukraine. In a Facebook message, Peiu wrote that 'Nicusor Dan is arrogating to himself a right the Constitution doesn'
Predoiu on Ministry of the Interior Day: Romania is a country with zero migration
Acting Minister of the Interior Catalin Predoiu said on Thursday, on the occasion of the Ministry of the Interior Day, that illegal migration has been reduced 'to insignificant levels' and that Romania can be considered 'a country with zero migration'. 'The first Schengen evaluation by the European Commission, completed a few months ago, ha
Acting ForMin Toiu on U.S. visit: Meetings in Congress, participation in Ministerial Conference on political terrorism
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Toiu, who is on a visit to the United States of America, took part in the ceremonies marking the presence of the Mircea tall training ship in the U.S., as well as in the events marking 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Toiu also met with Romanian Harvard students. The visit a
Danube at lowest level in last 30 years
The Danube reached, on Thursday, the lowest historical flow in the last 30 years, namely 1750 cubic meters/s, with a downward trend for the next 4-5 days, reaching the level of 1700 cubic meters/s, according to official forecast. According to the National Romanian Waters Administration, the current flow of the Danube at Bazias is comparable to the minimum valu
MEP Diana Sosoaca sent to trial for detaining Italian journalist in her office
MEP Diana Sosoaca has been sent to trial by the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice on four counts of unlawful deprivation of liberty, after allegedly preventing an Italian journalist from leaving her office during an interview in December 2021. Her former husband, Silvestru Sosoaca, has also been sent to trial, charged
Nazare: Romania can become strategic supplier of agri-food products for region and for Europe
Romania can become a strategic supplier of agri-food products for the region and for Europe; however, realizing this potential requires more competitive farms, cooperation, investment, technology, and a much stronger processing industry, according to interim Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare. 'AgriConnect: A significant capital injection and access to tech
MAI Day / Nicusor Dan: I encourage the setting of high performance standards to meet security challenges.
Public confidence in safety—in living in a society where laws are enforced and respected—is built through the contributions of all structures subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI), including the Police, the Gendarmerie, the Border Police, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, and all other constituent units, President Nicusor Dan stat
Hanga: Bucharest Stock Exchange could end year with 2.5 million transactions, a new record
The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) could end the year with approximately 2.5 million transactions on the main equity market—20-30% above the previous annual record—BVB Chairman Radu Hanga said on Thursday. 'The latest figure, as of the end of the first quarter, stands at over 300,000 open accounts. At our current pace, we will likely end the ye
At least a third of Romania's 2028-2034 development funding should go to private sector (minister)
At least a third of the financing intended for Romania's development in the 2028-2034 European programming period should be allocated to the private sector, through financial instruments and access to capital, not predominantly through grants, interim Minister of European Investment and Projects Dragos Pislaru, said on Thursday. 'I have started to conv
Interim PM Bolojan: Energy has become a matter of security, economic competitiveness and living standards
Energy has become a matter of security, economic competitiveness and, ultimately, living standards because high energy prices affect companies, reduce investment and are reflected directly or indirectly in the costs borne by citizens, interim Prime Minister and interim Energy Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Thursday at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the