Romania Shake-Up: Screciu Ousted as Hagi Overhauls Squad for Wales Clash

The stage is set in Bucharest, and the drama has already begun before the first whistle blows against Wales today at 20:45. Steaua Stadium is ready to host this friendly, but the real shockwave comes from the manager’s office. Gheorghe Hagi has pulled the lever on a complete overhaul, deciding that the team that drew 1-1 with Georgia four days ago is no longer the team he needs.

A Radical Revolution in Ghencea

Seven players who featured in Tbilisi have been entirely removed from the matchday roster. The names are heavy hitters in the current cycle: Radu Drăgușin, Răzvan Marin, Ianis Hagi, Virgil Ghiță, Valentin Mihăilă, Alexandru Cicâldău, and Florin Tănase. They are not even on the bench. But the story that stings the most is the exclusion of Vladimir Screciu.

Screciu, the midfielder for Universitatea Craiova, was initially named in the squad. He played 71 minutes against Georgia, delivering the decisive assist for Louis Munteanu’s goal. Yet, for the clash with Wales, he finds himself outside the group. Ilie Dumitrescu, now an official at the Romanian Football Federation, confirmed the harsh reality to Digisport: "It was decided this morning that Screciu would not be part of the squad." A cold dismissal for a player who contributed directly to the previous result.

The New Face of the National Team

So who steps into the void? The official sheet reveals a 4-3-3 formation, signaling a fresh tactical approach. Lisav Eissat takes the left-back role, while Tudor Băluță is tasked with the defensive midfield anchor. Darius Olaru operates on the right wing, and Louis Munteanu, the scorer in Georgia, returns to his natural number 9 role up top. Alexandru Stanciu leads the side as captain, orchestrating the midfield alongside Tudorel Băluță and Vlad Drăgoș.

• Starting XI: Hindrich – Sorescu, Burcă, M. Ilie, Eissat – Stanciu (c), T. Băluță, Vl. Dragomir – Olaru, L. Munteanu, Baiaram
• Substitutes: Târnovanu, Aioani – Strata, M. Popescu, Rus, Coman, Drăguș, Dobre, D. Matei, Borza, Moruțan, Coubiș, Cîrjan
• Coach: Gheorghe Hagi

The exact positioning may shift once the boots hit the grass, but the message is clear: Hagi is building a new identity. The question remains whether this new configuration has the chemistry to break the deadlock against a resilient Welsh side. The experiment begins tonight.