Romania started the match against Cyprus with strong promise thanks to Dragusin’s excellent performance, netting both goals to give the team an early lead. However, despite this bright start, the national team ultimately failed to maintain momentum, conceding twice and settling for a 2-2 draw that continues to highlight their struggles in this qualification campaign.
Dragusin’s two goals were a rare positive note in a game that otherwise underscored Romania’s inconsistency and lack of control. His clinical finishing gave fans hope that the team could secure a vital win, but defensive lapses and a lack of cohesion allowed Cyprus to fight back effectively.
This result fits the season-long narrative: Romania plays below expectations, unable to capitalise on promising moments. The 0-3 defeat in an earlier friendly against Canada revealed the team’s vulnerabilities even more starkly, demonstrating a gap between the current squad’s level and their European ambitions.
Coach Mircea Lucescu, looking for explanations, placed some blame on referees after the Cyprus match, suggesting officiating decisions influenced the outcome. Yet even after the heavy loss to Canada, Lucescu remarked that “if we leave aside the goals, Romania played well,” a statement that has been met with scepticism given the team’s evident lack of rhythm and dynamism.
Romania’s supporters are growing increasingly frustrated with the team’s inability to close out games despite individual moments of quality, like Dragusin’s brace. Without addressing tactical flaws and boosting overall team performance, the current qualification campaign looks set to continue on a disappointing path.
The upcoming fixtures must signal a turning point if Romania is to rescue this campaign and restore faith among fans who expect more from their national team.
![](https://valahia.news/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Explore-Bucharest.png")
