Romania

www.romania.com

World Ranking 12

Squad

Team Review

Romania’s chances of progressing any further than the group stages were all but gone as soon as the draw was made and they were placed in the group of death with the likes of France, Italy and Holland. I can see them maybe nicking a point or two of their opponents but qualification would be nothing short of a miracle.

Star Man

Adrian Mutu, who has been in great form of late and has been scoring a fair few goals this season for Fiorientina and is

still considered Romania’s main goal threat as he has the pedigree to score goals at the highest level as shown in his days with Juventus and Chelsea.

Also check out who we think will be the 'players to watch' in the tournament

Tournament History

Match Reports

Romania 0 - 0 France

Before the game I could only really see one outcome and that was France winning comfortably but the Romanians proved my wrong a ground out a goalless draw with the world cup finalists of 2006.

The game wasn’t one for the neutral as there were very few clear cut opportunities for either team except for a first half header that went over the bar from Anelka who is not known for his heading ability.

The game did start to pick up in the second half but again there were no real chances mustered by either team and with half an hour still left to go it seemed the game was inevitably going to finish as a nil-nil draw.

From a Romanian perspective they set out to exactly what happened and that was to frustrate France and keep 11 men behind the ball as much as possible. France were poor all game and never looked like they were going to penetrate the well drilled Romanian defence who to be honest never looked a threat going forward either.

All in all the game was dire and certainly not a game to remember so I think im going to leave it at that.

Italy 1 - 1 Romania

(Panucci 56) (Mutu 55)

The game was, to be fair to both teams probably the worst game of the tournament as the Romanians set up to frustrate the French with a defensive 4-5-1 formation which didn’t help the flow of the game and what also didn’t help the French was their lack of confidence going into this tournament which was clear for all to see as their was little creative spark within the team which although was full of stars couldn’t break down the stubborn Romanian back line.

The best chance of the half fell to Anelka who headed over form six yards which is understandable as he has never been known for his heading ability. Both teams went in at half time needing to come out with different tactics and ideas if either team wanted to win the game. The second half wasn’t any better than the first with both teams again not creating much in terms of clear cut chances and carried on in that vein with the game ending nil nil as neither team wanted to go that extra length to win the game.

Netherlands 2 - 0 Romania

(Huntelaar 54, Van Persie 87)

The match was of little significance to the Dutch however on the other hand it meant the difference between going home and qualification for the Romanians who need results elsewhere to go their way as well as a win here to book their place in the last eight.

The game started brightly with both teams going for it, but Victor Piţurcă's side were always on the back foot as the rampant second string Dutch side were gaining in confidence an were creating decent chances for Robben and Huntelaar but both went just wide. At half time the score was level at 0-0.

The second half started off how the first had finished with the Dutch side passing fluently around the pitch with Engelaar controlling the middle of the park. The Netherlands were not held entirely in check, as Van Persie headed wide from an Engelaar cross.

Romania then threatened for the first time, with Adrian Mutu collecting a throw-in and twisting and turning to work space only to pull his shot across the face of goal. Then the Dutch went up a gear a showed why they are now tournament favourites with Huntelaar not needing another chance to prove what a top marksmen he is finishing expertly from an Affelay cross. Robin Van Persie then put the game beyond the reach of the Romanians by putting away his second of the tournament and it was to be the goal that knocked the Romanians out of the tournament.