Italy’s Serie B is Nati’s backbone in Romania: “It’s been worse than in 50 years!”

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It is a modest selection of the name that will try to survive in Switzerland on Monday. It does have big names like Hagi, Moldovan or Munteanu. But only one person has the blood of the eponymous great footballer in his veins: Ianis Hagi (24), the son of Gheorghe Hagi (58). “However, he was injured for 14 months, did not return until mid-February and has since had four very short assignments at Glasgow Rangers. And yet, when asked why he was in the squad, national coach Edi Iordanescu said: ‘Because he can help us .”, investigative football journalist at «Gazeta Sporturilor» and deep knowledge of the scene.

Missed the World Cup 6 times in a row

In the late 1990s, Romania had one of the strongest teams in the world, led by director Hagi. Despite the 1:4 against Switzerland, the golden generation of the Yellows knocked out tournament favorite Argentina in the round of 16 of the 1994 World Cup. In this period you received tickets for three world and two European championships in a row. However, since 1998, the World Cup has been missed six times! The eleven from the Carpathian state were only occasionally able to qualify for the European Championship: in 2000 and 2016.

No strong selection without players in the top leagues

Viorel Moldovan (50), known not only for his goals for Xamax, GC and Servette, but also for cheating on the quiz show “Risk”, also knew the answer (“Das isch de Fuessballer Moldovan gsi”) as a candidate for the question was asked, paints a bleak picture on balkaninsight.com: “Look where our national players make their living these days. Does it have one in the top five divisions? none! Many play in Italy, but only in Serie B. In our time we played in the Bundesliga, Primera Division, Ligue 1 and Serie A. Without mercenaries in the top leagues you don’t stand a chance of getting one in Europe these days. Eleven. That’s why we’re not here anymore.”

Seven stages in Serie B

If you look closely, there are only two other really interesting names besides Hagi junior: the very talented Radu Dragusin (21), center back and just returned to Serie A alongside Silvan Hefti with Genoa. Besides the currently injured Serie A midfielder Razvan Marin (27, Empoli), he is the most expensive Romanian with a market value of 8 million.

Seven currently play in Serie B. In addition, one in the Spanish Segunda Division and one in the Emirates. And Captain Nicolae Stanciu (30) in China. “Series B is the backbone of our team,” says Stucan. It sounds a bit mocking and hopeless at the same time.

No talent, no bite

But how did this toothless condition in Draculaland come about? For Moldova, in the last international match against Romania, the 1-1 draw at the European Championship in the Prinzenpark in Paris, assistant coach to Anghel Iordanescu and now unemployed, the money ruined everything. “The players are primarily concerned with a high salary. The club president, who is constantly looking for money, therefore wants to sell a talented player to a big club after what feels like two good games. Here you earn between 15,000 and 20,000 euros per month. That is a lot of money! To earn more, you have to switch to a foreign top league. But it lacks talent and bite. Because our players, unlike many Balkan countries, are no longer mental fighters and therefore prefer to stay in their nests. »

Even Steaua and Dinamo Bucharest in misery

According to Moldova, the high salaries led to a permanent cash shortage. And when a club is in misery, one thing gives the other. Salary is paid months late. Migrate players. Last season, for example, the league had to deduct points from two struggling clubs and then harass them all season: Gaz Metan Medias and Academica Clinceni. Finally they dismounted. Like the once so proud Dinamo Bucharest, which immediately promoted last season. Even the army sports club Steaua Bucharest was split up in turmoil over a sale and a legal dispute and lives on today under both the names FCSB Bucharest and Steaua Bucharest.

And yet: with a victory in Lucerne, the sons of Dracula could forget a lot in one fell swoop.

Source : Blick