Legends of International Football - Gheorghe Hagi

Gheorghe Hagi

After the heights of USA ’94, Hagi turned up at France ’98 sporting a blond head, for what he said was his final tournament. On the wrong side of 30, he wasn’t the same player who had lobbed Oscar Cordoba four years prior, but his genius still remained. He captained Romania to two wins in the group stage against Colombia and England, and then a draw with Tunisia.

In the game against England, his left foot was at it again, lobbing the ball over the heads of Sol Campbell and Tony Adams, setting up Viorel Moldovan for the opener. In the Round of 16 match against Croatia, he disappointed and Romania went out, losing 0-1. It was the last the World Cup would see of this genius.

Hagi did however make a final comeback, in time to captain the team at Euro 2000. It would turn out to be an anti-climax. Picking up a yellow card each against Germany and Portugal, he missed the thrilling final group game against England when Romania triumphed 3-2.

In the quarterfinal against Italy, Hagi made his 125th appearance for his national team. In the 35th minute, with his side trailing by a Francesco Totti goal, Hagi raced through and chipped the ball over Italian keeper Toldo; unfortunately for him though, the ball thudded off the crossbar. What would have been a dream scenario did not materialise as expected and things turned took a turn for the worse when Hagi was sent off in the 59th minute. Hagi walked back to the dressing room and the rest of the team soon followed after being knocked out.

When we conduct a very objective analysis of Hagi’s international career, it may seem that for most of it, he did not impress. The World Cup of 1994 remains, on its own, Hagi’s single impressive achievement. But that in itself, is an achievement worth praising. Loads of players fail to even make it to a World Cup, despite shining at club level. Hagi made it to three World Cups and made one of them a scene of his extraordinary creative genius at work.

And when we look at it from subjective Romanian eyes, there is no doubt whatsoever about Gheorghe Hagi’s status. That 80,000 people turned up for his testimonial should say something about what he meant for his countrymen. He was the defining symbol of an impressive Tricolorii in the 90s and he truly is, as the Romanians will tell you, a legend of international football.

Watch this video from FIFA where Hagi and other members of Romania’s WC ’94 squad talk about their exploits in the States :

The legendary John Motson provides the commentary in this video showing the highlights of the Romania – Argentina match at USA ’94 :