From havoc to hope: How Hagi still inspires Romania

No matter nan result of their last-16 conflict pinch nan Netherlands successful Munich connected Tuesday, this is already a footballing summertime to retrieve for Romania.

Tricolorii returned to nan shot mainstage, topping their group astatine Euro 2024 aft missing retired connected qualification for nan past 3 awesome tournaments.

At Euro 2016, erstwhile they past featured successful a large title earlier this 1 successful Germany, they were led by Anghel Iordanescu, nary different than nan begetter of their existent manager, Edward.

But it was by nary intends a soft passing of nan sceptre betwixt nan two, pinch havoc and slump dominating nan Romanian shot scenery complete nan past 8 years.

Romania underperformed astatine Euro 2016 and were yet knocked retired successful nan group shape aft losing a qualification decider to Albania.

It took 8 years and 4 discharged managers to reconstruct hope. Romania is simply a football-mad country, but nan deficiency of occurrence astatine some nine and nationalist squad levels has seen belief among fans dip to unprecedented lows.

But what precisely changed to boost morale and make Romanians from each corners of nan world consciousness that they were portion of thing singular astatine Euro 2024?

Widely regarded arsenic nan champion subordinate nan state has ever produced, Gheorghe Hagi had a prophetic rant successful beforehand of nan media successful 1998, unhappy pinch nan disapproval nan nationalist squad was receiving astatine home.

"We merit statues for what we did complete nan past 10 years," he railed. "You'll spot that successful 2 aliases 3 years Romanian shot will die. Zero!"

With Hagi starring successful midfield, Romania went connected to hit England successful nan group stages of nan 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, reaching nan knockout stages successful some tournaments.

Then, pinch Hagi turned manager, nan Romanians mislaid nan qualification play-offs for nan 2002 World Cup successful Slovenia. As Hagi had prophesised, it was over.

The memories from nan glory days of nan '90s turned into yearly celebrations that made Romanians alert of what they utilized to be.

Between Hagi's status arsenic a subordinate successful 2000 and Euro 2024 nan nationalist squad only qualified for nan 2008 and 2016 Euros, pinch nary World Cups successful between.

Hagi's premonition haunted Romanian shot complete nan years. It was nan man himself who decided to act.

Hagi invested much than £10m from nan money he made arsenic a subordinate to commencement an academy from scratch. He decided to build it adjacent Constanța, his hometown, connected nan Romanian coastline of nan Black Sea.

"Football gave maine everything and I want to springiness thing back. We person unthinkable talent, we conscionable request to do nan correct point pinch it," Hagi said successful 2009 erstwhile he started nan task connected a pasture wherever he had nary energy aliases moving water.

He besides needed to build a roadworthy because entree by car was impossible.

The attraction was connected nan younker teams, but a elder broadside was created too. The team, past called Viitorul (translated arsenic The Future), managed to get promoted from nan 3rd tier to nan first successful conscionable 3 years.

Led by Hagi arsenic nine proprietor and manager, nan squad won nan Romanian title successful 2017 and 2023 and played successful nan Champions League qualifiers.

In 2021, Viitorul merged pinch neighbouring Farul. It will move from nan academy set-up to a caller stadium successful Constanța successful 2026.

Since 2009, 61 young players person made their debut successful nan Romanian apical formation pinch Hagi's team.

"By 2022, I want half nan nationalist squad to beryllium either formed by players coming from our nine aliases by players who were raised here," Hagi said successful 2008.

Looking astatine nan squad Romania took to Germany for Euro 2024, we find six players who person Hagi's sanction attached to their statement process, including his boy Ianis.

For definite games successful nan qualifiers, moreover arsenic galore arsenic 12 players from nan 23 selected by caput coach Iordanescu were either coming from aliases had been playing for Hagi's team.

Job done, different prediction validated by reality.

The mostly of nan players successful Romania's squad astatine nan Euros person ne'er seen Hagi elder play live, but nan highlights that invaded societal media made judge his iconic goals and dribbles are good known.

And there's Ianis, nan holder of nan marque and number 10 for Romania astatine Euro 2024.

Before leaving for nan World Cup successful nan United States successful 1994, Hagi elder said astatine nan airdrome that Romania should only beryllium happy if they won nan trophy.

There were laughs astatine home, but nan nationalist squad managed convincing wins complete Colombia, USA and Argentina to scope nan quarter-finals, only to beryllium eliminated by Sweden aft a melodramatic punishment shootout. Brazil would person been adjacent successful nan semi-finals.

"We should beryllium happy pinch what we achieved. It stopped erstwhile it needed to stop. That way, we're leaving nan roadworthy unfastened for different procreation to do much than we did," Hagi said complete nan years.

With a squad that is obscurity adjacent nan 1 of nan '90s successful position of skill, Romania built a caller broadside to beryllium proud of.

It took years of suffering and accepting who they had become. More than anything, nan squad Romania took to Euro 2024 has impressed pinch its large heart.

A group of normal players were convinced by head Iordanescu that they could do bonzer things if they stuck together.

The 3-0 triumph complete Ukraine, nan adjacent conflict they put up against Belgium during a 2-0 conclusion and nan 1-1 tie pinch Slovakia that sealed qualification built momentum for a federation that had buried shot joyousness location heavy successful its past.

Romania had only scored 3 goals successful their erstwhile 13 games against nan Netherlands, winning conscionable once, but stats should not matter excessively overmuch for a broadside that came to Germany undefeated successful nan qualifiers aft topping a group that Switzerland were besides portion of.

Today's Romania takes inspiration from nan past to build a realistic, caller future.

"I deliberation this squad is tin of reaching nan past four," Hagi Sr predicted earlier nan tournament.

The Dutch must already beryllium alert of Hagi's occurrence complaint pinch prophecies.