Romania's Resurgence: A New Generation Echoes the Glory of the Golden Era

From the mid-to-late 1980s, Steaua and Dinamo Bucharest were incubators of remarkable Romanian talent. Names like Gheorghe Hagi, Ilie Dumitrescu, Marius Lăcătuș, Gheorghe Popescu, Dan Petrescu, Florin Prunea, Ioan Mihali, and Florin Răducioiu became synonymous with artistry on the pitch, dazzling Europe with their technical brilliance and audacious strikes. Hagi, especially, was revered for his magical left foot, drawing comparisons to the legendary Diego Maradona. In those years, Romania was reemerging as a European powerhouse, reminiscent of their golden days of 1970.

Romania's squad was tactically sound and meticulously organized. The defence was fortified by exceptional goalkeepers, and the midfield, set up in a flat four, employed a pivot system that blended defence with creativity. One midfielder operated as the heart of the attack, while the other held a supportive, stabilizing role. The rest of the midfield and defensive line were uncompromising in their duties, providing cover and discipline. The entire team flowed through the playmaker, who orchestrated the game, igniting attacks, and building the Romanian squad into a formidable force from 1990 through 1994.

Today, some three decades later, a new generation has taken up the mantle. The 4-1-4-1 formation provides the same platform for players to express their skills and tactical prowess. Names like Nicolae Stanciu, Răzvan Marin, Denis Drăguș, Florinel Coman, Andrei Burcă, and Ianis Hagi—son of the legendary Gheorghe Hagi—may not yet be household names, but their style evokes memories of Romania’s golden generation. Like their predecessors, they score sensational goals, squeeze the opposition into tight spaces, and defend with relentless determination.

Romania’s qualifiers painted a promising picture, marking them as an underdog to watch. Their recent victory over Ukraine in Munich echoed Hagi’s iconic strike against Colombia in Pasadena 30 years ago—a dramatic reminder of Romanian football’s fearless spirit. It’s been an electrifying start, one that hints at the possibility of a run to the quarterfinals or beyond.

Note: Excerpts from the The Guardian

Thank You

Faisal Caesar