BRO, hold on tight because I've got news that'll make you slap your forehead! Gică Popescu, the former national team captain, spilled the beans in an interview and said it straight to everyone's face: Romania has been sitting at home for 28 years since we last made the World Cup, while in that time Curacao, Haiti, and Jordan qualify. Yes, bro, you read that right! Curacao, an island the size of a Cora parking lot, and Haiti, where they're a mess, make it to the World Cup, and we're watching on TV like chumps. Popescu, who played in three World Cups – '90, '94, and '98 – says it's frustrating. And I'm frustrated too, especially when Mioara asks me why I'm watching cheap football matches instead of making money.
Listen to what Popescu said: 'The European path is always harder, but it's frustrating to see Curacao and Haiti at the World Cup while we stay home.' That's right, bro, Europe is full of strong nations, but when you see islands with zero history qualifying, you gotta ask: what the hell are we doing? And look, Dan Petrescu, who always has a witty remark, predicted a while back that we wouldn't qualify for 20 years. Popescu laughs, but bitterly: 'That's too many years, 28... When Dan Petrescu said we wouldn't qualify for 20 years, it seems he was optimistic.' Man, madness! And I was thinking maybe this year we'd at least make the playoffs, but look, Bănel Nicoliță was right: we're a mess.
Popescu, who's a serious guy, also said how we can bounce back: 'It takes a lot of work, a lot of patience, and know-how.' Work, patience, know-how – words we've been hearing for 20 years, ever since they've been telling us they're investing in Romanian football. But what do I see in my Berceni? Kids playing on the lot between cars, and Brian dreams of a Hagi jersey but doesn't know who Hagi is. That's Romania, bro: we talk a lot, do little, and wonder why we're out of the game.
Now, let's be serious: if even a guy from Curacao, which is the size of a summer camp, can make it to the World Cup, then we've got a big problem. Popescu says the decline happened over time and we need time to recover. Well, we've got time, but who's got patience? Me, when I think that the last time we were at the World Cup I was playing with cigarettes at the traffic light, I feel like crying. But let's not be sad – instead of sulking, I'd rather go to Fane's terrace, have a beer, and discuss why we don't play football properly. Until then, I'm off to tell Brian to stop dreaming about the World Cup – maybe he'll make it when he grows up, but until then, let's watch Curacao – at least we'll see something new!
